Teaching materials in visual arts education – policy and traditions

This article problematises the amendment of the Swedish Education Act using visual arts education as a case. In 2021, the Swedish government, on behalf of a Committé, released a report promoting publisher-produced teaching materials, e.g., to strengthen students’ access to publisher-produced teaching materials. Furthermore, equivalence is a central argument in the state report for using textbooks in all subjects. The state report has been analysed with policy analysis and the results show that teaching materials are promoted as an answer to declining school results, which is the problem represented to be. Traditionally, visual arts teachers produce their teaching materials. The authors agree that an image-based subject, such as visual arts, can benefit from using textbooks to a greater extent. However, the state report does not consider the unique characteristics of visual arts nor its deep-rooted traditions regarding image-making and art teachers’ professional autonomy.