Although Austrians curricula for the general secondary level have anchored political education as an overarching educational goal, there are no concrete references in the current subject-specific curriculum for art education. Thus political education rather remains a vague requirement than a contractual measure in art lessons.
Current events and the results of recent studies indicate, that democracies are under increasing global pressure (OECD, 2024). Civic education and democracy education are therefore not only necessary, but must play a stronger role in art education.

Subject specific art pedagogy and didactics provide approaches on the topic of democracy. Political dimensions are not only currently being considered in its discourses in various respects, but are as well inscribed in the genesis of the subject itself (cf. history of the subject; especially political aesthetic education in Germany as a subarea within art education).

The aim of the presentation is to introduce subject areas and starting points that are particularly suitable for promoting democracy education through art lessons at secondary level. In the background of democracy education (John Dewey) and alongside the subtopics 1) “Political dimensions of the aesthetic” the presentation will introduce and discuss approaches and methods as effective concepts of democracy education for Austrian art education.

Authors:
Eva Greisberger, University of Applied Arts Vienna, Austria

About the Presenter(s)
Eva Greisberger is Senior Lecturer the Center for Didactics of Art and Interdisciplinary Education at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and further a PHD student.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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