Jane Bendix

3.2 Daring to Stay with the Unknown in Processes (Paper)

Jane Bendix – ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art, Ishøj, Denmark

Kirstine Thrane – Copenhagen University College, Denmark

Abstract:

How can art museums become territories for developing art education capable of envisioning an unknown future? And which new didactic tools may be relevant for future art teachers in order to support pupils’ working in the unknown in every aspect of art education? In 2019 examination became obligatory in Denmark in art classes for pupils aged 13-15. The introduction of the exam had many art teachers focus on how to facilitate pupils’ work from idea to product, and seemed to favour a quite linear understanding of artistic processes. For other art educators, though, exploring how to stay with more open notions of process through art pedagogical approaches became urgent. In response to the debate, ARKEN Museum of Contemporary Art (Ishøj, Denmark) in partnership with art teachers and pupils from local schools as well as art lecturer and teacher students from University College Copenhagen initiated a three-year project aiming at developing new practices of art education. The project took place through art laboratories in the museum context. Throughout the project traditional concepts of art education were challenged or “disturbed.” This presentation will unfold key concepts/tools of the project together with case examples involving teacher students. Furthermore, it will point at perspectives of how using arts own practice as teaching methods affects (art) education as such.