Understanding of ecological issues increased

Full description

This outcome is about how cultural activities can contribute to an increased understanding of ecological and environmental issues. By ecological issues we mean the harmful effects of human activity on the natural environment which have implications for human health, biodiversity, and the earth’s ability to sustain life. An understanding of ecological issues is important to address environmental issues and promote action to protect the environment and address issues such as climate change.

Theory underpinning this outcome

In order to address many of the current ecological issues a significant public investment is required. Any investment requires widespread public support which is dependent on public understanding of issues (Curtis, Reid and Ballard, 2012). A contributing factor in environmental decline is problems in providing information to people which may persuade them of the need to change to more ecologically sustainable behaviour. (Curtis, 2011). Savva, Trimis and Zachariou (2004) suggest that a reason that arts activities are so effective in raising ecological awareness is their ability to engage participants emotions and provoke empathy which they argue is essential to encouraging awareness. Arts activities have been found to increase understanding due to their ability to articulate complex information, engage emotions as well a creating a “celebratory atmosphere” in which complex information about urgent ecological issues can be disseminated (Curtis, Reid and Ballard, 2012)

Cultural activities that are centred on local traditional and cultural knowledge have been shown to result in a greater understanding of environmental issues. For Example, young people who engaged with art and cultural activities of an American Indian tribe were prompted to think about ecological issues such as “sustainable land use, conservation, recycling, slowing global climate change” (Bequette, 2007).

Interdisciplinary approaches that incorporate arts activities together environmental education have been shown to be effective in building understanding of ecological issues (Song, 2012) by enabling a more “socially relevant and personally engaged learning context” (Paek, 2018).

Evidence that this outcome occurs

(This item is currently in development. Updates will be posted here as they are completed)

Young children in the US learnt about the ecological changes through a basket weaving activity with a First Nations artist. The children learnt about the artist’s use of ecological knowledge when collecting materials and how the loss of wetlands have led to the scarcity of materials (Bequette, 2007).

Activities

(This section is currently in development. Updates will be posted here as they are completed.)

Processes

(This section is currently in development. Updates will be posted here as they are completed.)

Understanding of ecological issues

Bequette, J. (2007). Traditional Arts Knowledge, Traditional Ecological Lore: The Intersection of Art Education and Environmental Education. Studies in Art Education, 48(4): 360-374.

Curtis, D., Reid, N., & Ballard, G. (2012). Communicating Ecology Through Art What Scientists Think. Ecology and Society, 17(2): 3.

Curtis, D. J. (2011) Using the Arts to Raise Awareness and Communicate Environmental Information in the Extension Context. Journal of agricultural education and extension. 17(2): 181-194

Paek, K. (2018). Creative engagement on ecological issues: Studio work experience in a context of interdisciplinary learning. Creativity Studies, 11(1), 41-55.

Savva, A., Trimis, E., & Zachariou, A. (2004). Exploring the links between visual arts and environmental education: Experiences of teachers participating in an in-service training programme. The International Journal of Art & Design Education, 23(3): 246-255.

Song, Y. (2012). Crossroads of public art, nature and environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 18(6): 797-813.