ART EDUCATION, CREATIVITY, AND 21ST CENTURY SKILLS

Support for creativity in art education has as Enid Zimmerman noted in her 2010 Lowenfeld Lecture come and gone but is again gaining national attention. On July 15, 2010 the National Art Education Association (NAEA), along with its collaborative partners the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21), the American Alliance for Theatre & Education, the Educational Theatre Association, the National Association for Music Education, the National Dance Association, and the National Dance Education Association announced the availability of the 21st Century Skills Art Map. The Art Map project provides practical examples of engaging learning experiences in what P21 calls the four Cs critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and creativity and innovation.

"Creativity and Art Education: A Personal Journey in Four Acts"
21st Century Skills Arts Map Press Release
21st Century Skills Arts Map
21st Century Skills Arts Map Supporting Structures
Testimony by Leslie Moore for Arts Map Release July 2010

There is growing recognition that creative thinking, problem solving, communication, and analytic skills are equally as important as academic and technical skills (http://inpathways.net/21stjobs.pdf). Thus, NAEA committed to this project because like P21 it recognizes the importance of having students leave school prepared with the skills and knowledge to address real world challenges. The visual arts must be a part of the core curriculum so that students have an opportunity to develop skills and capacity in what P21 calls Life and Career Skills, flexibility and adaptability, initiative and self-director, social and cross-cultural skills, productivity and accountability and leadership and responsibility. Yet, Zimmerman (2010) challenges art educators to reconsider the role of creativity in art education not only as a vehicle for cultural identify, technology, good citizenship, and economic entrepreneurship, but also to think about students rights to creative self-expression and creating a body of art work based on his or her abilities and concerns. This challenge provides art educators with an opportunity to revisit our own beliefs as we shape the future of all our students.

Kudos!

Congratulations to Diana Grergory, Assistant Professor of Art Education, Kennesaw State who won the 2009 National Art Education Association, Southeastern Higher Education, Educator of Year Award.