Working at the Edges: Material Explorations on Change in Art Education and Policy Through Teacher Agency

Abstract My research aims to investigate structures built from the intertwined relationships between education policy, its underlying neoliberal agendas and prevalent Filipino family values, and how these affect the way art is taught in the Philippine basic education system. Through my positions as artist and educator seeking ways to address my criticisms of the treatment of art education in my country, I explore the nature of change within these described structures through practice‐based research via a participatory art installation. The paper details my methodology and observations together with related academic theories in order to draw insights on how and where change begins within these structures. This work also problematises change in the Philippines' complex setting and will eventually weigh the implications and potentials of teacher agency in this context and how these could contribute to a more global conversation on change in education.