Research in Visual Arts Education - The National Society for ...

BETWEEN VISUAL ARTS AND VISUAL CULTURE
a strategy of reflection, visual culture can be unfolded by making settings for students’
own art production that challenge their preconceptions. It focuses on exposing diversities
and thereby unfolds pluralism as a condition of late modern societies. (Illeris, Buhl
and Flensborg 2004:10)
Other themes have been explored through individual research projects and
collaborations: Ingelise Flensborg has continued her work on space and perception
through empirical investigations of schoolyards and digital media
(Flensborg 2005, 2006, Flensborg and Witfelt 2004); Mie Buhl has developed
projects on the aesthetic potentials of media education (Buhl 2006, Buhl
and Hemmingsen 2004), and Helene Illeris has carried out several studies
in museum and gallery education (Illeris, 2003; 2004; 2005; 2006). Research
in the curriculum of visual arts education in the light of visual culture has
also been continued in collaborations between the researchers from the
unit and postgraduate teacher trainers (Arvedsen and Illeris 2005, 2006;
Buhl, Christensen and Skov 2003; 2004; 2005; 2006). Furthermore, a number
of M.A.’s from the former programme (most of them who now work
as teacher trainers) have published important books and articles on visual
culture and its relations to art education (e.g. Arvedsen 2003, 2005; Brandt,
2003; Henningsen 2003; Christensen and Skov, 2003), curriculum studies
(e.g. Hansen, 2002; Andersen, 2005; Rasmussen, 2005) and contemporary art
in education (e.g. Arvedsen & Illeris 2000; Seligmann & Mathiesen, 2004).
Research networks
With a very limited number of researchers in the field, Danish visual arts
education has established a strong tradition of networking with other national
and international researchers and institutions.
From 1996 to 1999 the Nordic Network for Visual Arts Education (see
Lindström, 1998; 2000) played a crucial role for international orientations
of Danish visual art research. At the seminars organised by the network,
Danish researchers and doctoral students had unique possibilities of meeting
Nordic colleagues and international guest speakers, and many of the relationships
that were established, continue as foundations for new exchanges
and collaborations.
After 1999, at the Nordic level, Danish researchers have primarily been
engaged in the network Arts, Cultures and Education under the Nordic
Educational Research Association (NERA). The network replaced the network
Aesthetics and Education in 2002 and Helene Illeris was the coordinator
in 2004 and 2005. In addition to the network sessions during the NERA congresses,
the Danish research unit organised symposia on visual culture (2003
& 2004) and teacher education (2005).
NORDIC VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION IN TRANSITION 85