Substantive Art Integration = Exemplary Art Education

It is time for new ideas and models for art education. Current developments in contemporary art, learning theory and in art education itself demand new approaches and provide inspiration and guidance for change. Each area brings particular components to the table but they all have one primary element in common: a call for an art education that is better connected to the concepts and ideas behind art and art practice, and to areas of inquiry outside of art. I propose an art education that is built on these broad and deep connections. I call it substantive art integration and believe it to be a core principle of an exemplary art education. Here is a summary of the foundations of this approach, an explanation of substantive integration and a sample project that demonstrates how it plays out in practice.