Year: 2024
Author: Belinda Davis, Clare Britt, Wendy Shepherd, Janet Robertson, Amanda Palmer
Type of paper: Individual Paper
Abstract:
Background: The Art & Wonder®: Young Children and Contemporary Art research project, a long-term collaboration between Macquarie University and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, working with children, families and teachers from Mia Mia Child and Family Study Centre, and Blacktown City Council Kids Early Learning (KEL). The research focuses on how very young children encounter contemporary art in a gallery space, and how rich pedagogy might emerge from these encounters.
Significance and Aims: The Art & Wonder®: Young Children and Contemporary Art research project explores young children’s encounters with contemporary art. It aims to enhance social inclusion and shift perceptions about young children’s competencies in engaging with art, artist educators, families and teachers. It advocates for young children’s rights to participate and be visible in public cultural institutions, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural citizenship.
Research design: The research project is designed for embodied aesthetic encounters which allows young children to experience art through movement and sensory exploration. The research program involves artist educators facilitating hands-on interactions enabling children to explore materials and techniques which help children develop complex aesthetic responses and foster a deeper connection with contemporary art. The research program emphasises the connections between creativity and play, encouraging children to respond to art in physical and imaginative ways through developing pedagogical approaches that create physical spaces for children to respond to art in embodied ways. Artist educators guide children through understanding gallery protocols and reading symbolic instructions in the museum.
Research findings: Children’s development of complex understandings of art including various forms like installation, sculpture and immersive projection. It also fosters intergenerational experiences within families, encouraging shared engagement with art. These pedagogical approaches collectively support inclusive spaces in the MCA which recognise and support young children’s capabilities as cultural participants and learners. The research project demonstrates how arts education in cultural institutions can foster change through reframing pedagogy, shifting perceptions about young children’s capabilities and promoting their cultural citizenship in a changing world.
Future research: Future research arising from this project include initiatives to support connection between early childhood education and care services with museum- and artist-led, rich, arts-based learning across all areas of Sydney and into Regional NSW. At the professional development level, the project provides further impetus to include practical early childhood teacher pre-service and in-service professional development in visual arts pedagogy, and artist educator professional development in early childhood pedagogy.
Significance and Aims: The Art & Wonder®: Young Children and Contemporary Art research project explores young children’s encounters with contemporary art. It aims to enhance social inclusion and shift perceptions about young children’s competencies in engaging with art, artist educators, families and teachers. It advocates for young children’s rights to participate and be visible in public cultural institutions, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural citizenship.
Research design: The research project is designed for embodied aesthetic encounters which allows young children to experience art through movement and sensory exploration. The research program involves artist educators facilitating hands-on interactions enabling children to explore materials and techniques which help children develop complex aesthetic responses and foster a deeper connection with contemporary art. The research program emphasises the connections between creativity and play, encouraging children to respond to art in physical and imaginative ways through developing pedagogical approaches that create physical spaces for children to respond to art in embodied ways. Artist educators guide children through understanding gallery protocols and reading symbolic instructions in the museum.
Research findings: Children’s development of complex understandings of art including various forms like installation, sculpture and immersive projection. It also fosters intergenerational experiences within families, encouraging shared engagement with art. These pedagogical approaches collectively support inclusive spaces in the MCA which recognise and support young children’s capabilities as cultural participants and learners. The research project demonstrates how arts education in cultural institutions can foster change through reframing pedagogy, shifting perceptions about young children’s capabilities and promoting their cultural citizenship in a changing world.
Future research: Future research arising from this project include initiatives to support connection between early childhood education and care services with museum- and artist-led, rich, arts-based learning across all areas of Sydney and into Regional NSW. At the professional development level, the project provides further impetus to include practical early childhood teacher pre-service and in-service professional development in visual arts pedagogy, and artist educator professional development in early childhood pedagogy.