Anne Deslauriers

4.13 Inclusive Art Education: Connections between Social Justice and Environmental Respect (Paper) – virtual

Anne Deslauriers – Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada  – virtual

Abstract:

This conference presents an art education approach that promotes inclusivity (Vienneau, 2021) and environmental respect (UNESCO, 2020) while addressing contemporary challenges. It explores the development of academic and pedagogical discourses on these growing concerns. These discourses profoundly influence pedagogical practices by redefining the role of art in constructing a renewed relationship to the world (Deslauriers, 2022). From this perspective, the intersection of art education (AE) and environmental education (EE) is explored as a lever for active citizenship, supported by immersive pedagogy and genuine involvement (Ferrer and Allard, 2021).

In Quebec (Canada), the elementary and secondary national program (PFEQ, 2001, 2007) provides an appropriate framework for this type of teaching, specifically through the educational axes of “Environment and consumption” and “Living together and citizenship.” These orientations enable students to engage in creative, reflective, and meaningful art making projects. Drawing on artistic movements such as Land Art, Eco-Art, and environmental art, this approach raises students’ awareness of the world complexity and teaches them to value cultural diversity within an eco-responsible framework (Rivera Maulucci et al., 2023). In conclusion, this presentation proposes the foundations of an art education model aligned with these current inclusivity and environment issues. Articulating the links between art pedagogy and socio-ecological education, the model fosters an approach combining the understanding of world complexity through artmaking. In doing so, students develop a conscious and open-minded citizenship grounded in contemporary issues and are ready to address the socio-ecological challenges of the 21st century.