Education Commons^™

The Great Promise Of A Community-Engaged Arts Education: Analysis And Recommendations, Paul Faulkner

Community Engagement Student Work

While facing inequitable and inconsistent levels of support, K-12 arts education in the United States shows great promise in its ability to strengthen community and build social capital. Deepseated ideals of rugged individualism and cultural elitism have complicated these potential rewards as is evident through a brief history of policies impacting arts education across various levels of government. Particular challenges related to access and funding have prevented all schools from offering a quality arts education that is able to incorporate students’ lived experience into the curriculum. Theories of democratic education, critical pedagogy, community cultural development, and creative placemaking are introduced …