Topic and the Research Questions

Our ability to understand, accept and access thecontemporary visual art is strongly influenced by the art education curriculum and specific teaching attitudes of individual teachers.  Particularly when there is no such effort within the family, our interest in and perception of contemporary visual art is initiated, developed and formed through educational programs of our schools.

The area of art education is a specific segment within a broad educational framework, and the art teacher plays a major role in awakening, developing, forming and maintaining the relationship between young individuals and the contemporary visual art scene. Do art teachers use examples, topics and elements of contemporary visual art in their teaching practice?  If yes, how does their everyday teaching practice look like? If not, what are the reasons?

This specific teaching attitude will determine whether we create a habit of visiting contemporary art venues for education and pleasure, become art collectors or enjoy being surrounded by contemporary artworks in our homes, workplaces and public spaces etc. 

Theoretical Framework

As a visual artist and emerging researcher in the area of art education I plan to continue the international research direction where Czech team has already participated such as Images & Identity project [www.image-identity.eu] and subsequent Creative Connections project [www.creativeconnexions.eu].

In the Czech environment, we have not directly defined the field of educational competences within most of the educational framework of art programs (Uhl Skřivanová V. a kol.,2014). I assume that teaching practices on the contemporary visual art in the Czech Republic are limited and are often classified as experimental. Teachers need courage to connect and initiate a dialog with visual art professionals such as artists, curators, art critics, theorists, gallerists, and collectors.

Because understanding the contemporary visual art requires changes in the teacher’s attitude, critical thinking and inquiry at both practical and theoretical levels, this topic is often overlooked or intentionally ignored by art teachers for various reasons.

Objective

Drawing on the research data, a specific curriculum for art education within National educational framework, focusing on the understanding of contemporary visual art will be designed.  This tool will support high school and higher-grade elementary school art teachers in building and structuring their lessons without interfering with the compulsory curriculum. It will help teachers to introduce their students to the exciting and inspiring environment of contemporary visual art and bring students closer to the benefits of exploring this area further in their future.

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