Art Education – inter-culturally

After a COVID-19-induced postponement, we are finally getting started! In February 2022, we welcomed nine students and two lecturers from the Armenian State Pedagogical University for a two-week workshop in Zurich. Together with art education students from Basel (FHNW), Lucerne (HSLU) and Zurich (ZHdK), they visited art classes in the cantonal schools of Baden and Bülach and gained insights into the work of museum education in the Kunsthaus Zürich and the Stapferhaus Lenzburg. Then, in groups of four, the students prepared their own lessons and delivered them to the students at the cantonal school in Bülach. Their lecturers observed the classes and gave feedback. Two moments of this workshop were particularly memorable: The first was the contribution of Kulturagent*innen, who brought their intervention in Swiss schools to life in the shape of a live performance; The second was the evening when the Armenian students presented their alphabet and its history at the Literaturhaus Zurich. Both were a success!
The nine Swiss students then travelled to Armenia in March 2022. Lecturers from Tbilisi and Sukhum/i joined the Armenian-Swiss group and all moved into a working room at the Armenian State Pedagogical University. The Armenian lecturers invited the participants to typical classes, which included carpet design and weaving, and sculpture. Moreover, museum visits introduced the students to the country's rich culture. Still, the focus of the programme was on school visits and joint lesson preparation, upon which the students built knowledge in preparation for holding their own. Our partner schools were located in Yerevan and Charenstavan. The cross-cultural teamwork necessary for these lessons proved an important learning experience for all participants. A blog was created that contains the students' impressions.