Art Education in the Age of Crises: Opportunities for Hope and Transformation

The culture of post-industrial societies has proven unsustainable in many ways: climate change, overconsumption of natural resources, violent conflicts, and social inequality create a looming dystopia that leaves people hopeless and without a vision for the future. Amid complex eco-social crises, it is essential to consider the role of art education as an educational and societal resource. Art education is not isolated from other sectors of society but is always connected to broader cultural and political contexts. In other words, art education can never be neutral; it either strengthens or challenges and reshapes the values and practices prevailing in society through its choices. This thematic issue, Art and a Hopeful Future, brings together studies presented in the Arts Education Special Interest Group at the 2023 FERA (Finnish Educational Research Association) Conference, focusing on the significance of art education as a builder of hope for the future.