Introduction and Description

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In contemporary educational environments, literacy and critical thinking are no longer confined to reading and writing; they encompass the ability to interpret complex texts, question assumptions, engage with diverse perspectives, and communicate across multiple modes. This course responds to these evolving demands by positioning the arts as a powerful vehicle for developing learners’ analytical, communicative and reflective capacities. Through structured encounters with artworks, dialogic inquiry, and creative expression, participants explore how the arts can deepen interpretation, stimulate curiosity, and empower students to “read the word and the world.”

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Designed for teachers, school leaders and educational staff, the course provides a rigorous yet accessible framework for integrating arts-based pedagogies into everyday practice. Participants examine key approaches—including multimodal literacy, Freirean problem-posing education, inquiry-based learning, and visual semiotics—while reflecting on their implications for inclusive, engaging and socially responsive teaching. Particular emphasis is placed on the arts as a means of fostering critical citizenship, supporting emotional development, and strengthening learners’ capacity to navigate the complexities of the digital and visual age.

 

Both the 5-day and 10-day versions offer a rich blend of theory, hands-on workshops and collaborative design. The extended 10-day programme includes deeper exploration of literacy frameworks, critical literacies pedagogy and a full-day module on Transformative Learning Through Aesthetic Experience, enabling participants to understand how aesthetic encounters can catalyse perspective transformation, empathy and personal growth. The condensed 5-day version maintains all essential components, providing an intensive introduction suitable for schools with limited mobility periods.

 

Throughout the course, participants engage in reflective dialogue, creative experimentation and practical project development. They leave equipped with ready-to-implement strategies, arts-based lesson plans, and an enhanced ability to design learning experiences that strengthen literacy, foster critical thinking and promote learner engagement. This programme aligns closely with Erasmus+ priorities such as inclusion, digital and media literacy, active citizenship, innovation in teaching, and the development of key competences.

 

By empowering educators to use the arts as catalysts for inquiry, reflection and transformation, the course supports schools in building learning environments where students think critically, communicate meaningfully and participate thoughtfully in democratic, culturally diverse societies.