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Inclusion, Life, and Innovation. The Relative Uses of Arts Education in Relation to the Sustainable Development Goals

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Arts, Sustainability and Education

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Abstract

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) present the greatest challenges facing our society. As a central force in the upbringing of future citizens, schools have a role to play in preparing children and adolescents for the trials posed by the societal issues underlying the SDGs.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The fieldwork is conducted by the research group CuDOS of the Sociology Department of Ghent University, in particular by Elke van Hevele and John Lievens.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Edwin van Meerkerk

  2. National Centre of Expertise for Cultural Education and Amateur Arts (LKCA), Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Arno Neele

  3. Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Iris van Korven

Authors
  1. Edwin van Meerkerk
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  2. Arno Neele
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  3. Iris van Korven
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arno Neele .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Academy of Fine Arts Munich, München, Bayern, Germany

    Ernst Wagner

  2. Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Charlotte Svendler Nielsen

  3. Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

    Luísa Veloso

  4. Aalto University, Aalto, Finland

    Anniina Suominen

  5. RMIT Europe, Barcelona, Spain

    Nevelina Pachova

Appendices

Appendix 1: List of Respondent’s Countries

Country

Respondents*

% Of respondents

% Of gross list

Austria

8

5.1%

4.2%

Belgium

11

7.0%

6.2%

Bulgaria

1

0.6%

1.2%

Cyprus

2

1.3%

1.3%

Czech Republic

1

0.6%

1.0%

Germany

25

15.9%

13.3%

Denmark

2

1.3%

1.5%

Spain

10

6.4%

4.0%

Estonia

2

1.3%

1.3%

Finland

10

6.4%

5.5%

France

6

3.8%

12.1%

Greece

2

1.3%

1.0%

Hungary

4

2.5%

1.5%

Iceland

1

0.6%

0.4%

Ireland

4

2.5%

2.2%

Latvia

1

0.6%

1.9%

Lithuania

1

0.6%

1.6%

Luxemburg

1

0.6%

0.4%

Netherlands

22

14.0%

5.9%

Norway

6

3.8%

5.6%

Poland

5

3.2%

5.2%

Portugal

4

2.5%

1.9%

Romania

1

0.6%

1.3%

Slovenia

1

0.6%

1.2%

Slovakia

1

0.6%

4.3%

Serbia

1

0.6%

0.6%

Sweden

2

1.3%

3.1%

Switzerland

6

3.8%

4.3%

United Kingdom

16

10.2%

7.4%

  1. *Respondents that gave their name and country of origin

Appendix 2: Quantitative Results

1. To what extent do you think arts education as it practised in your country currently contributes to achieving each of these 17 goals?

(1 = no contribution, 5 = high contribution)

SDGs

Mean

Median

SD

N

1. No poverty

2.3276

2.0000

1.26,337

116

2. Zero Hunger

1.7826

1.0000

1.10,646

115

3. Good health and well-being

3.3223

3.0000

1.36,757

121

4. Quality education

4.0083

5.0000

1.22,811

121

5. Gender equality

3.6441

4.0000

1.25,081

118

6. Clean water and sanitation

1.7434

1.0000

1.20,103

113

7. Affordable and clean energy

1.9474

2.0000

1.19,617

114

8. Decent work and economic growth

2.7000

2.0000

1.22,714

120

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

2.7881

3.0000

1.32,595

118

10. Reduced inequalities

3.0345

3.0000

1.37,006

116

11. Sustainable cities and communities

3.1933

3.0000

1.27,078

119

12. Responsible consumption and production

2.8051

3.0000

1.30,258

118

13. Climate action

2.7966

3.0000

1.23,038

118

14. Life below water

1.9739

2.0000

1.17,325

115

15. Life on land

2.1880

2.0000

1.21,010

117

16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

3.5593

4.0000

1.31,749

118

17. Partnerships for the goals

2.8974

3.0000

1.32,863

117

2. To what extent do you think arts education should potentially contribute to achieving each of these 17 goals in the future?

(1 = no contribution, 5 = high contribution)

SDGs

Mean

Median

SD

N

1. No poverty

3.5172

4.0000

1.51,217

116

2. Zero Hunger

2.9115

3.0000

1.51,515

113

3. Good health and well-being

4.2017

5.0000

1.20,437

119

4. Quality education

3.8175

4.0000

0.76,316

126

5. Gender equality

4.4274

5.0000

1.00,272

117

6. Clean water and sanitation

2.8000

3.0000

1.50,555

115

7. Affordable and clean energy

3.0345

3.0000

1.44,422

116

8. Decent work and economic growth

3.7373

4.0000

1.29,052

118

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

3.6750

4.0000

1.36,069

120

10. Reduced inequalities

4.1525

5.0000

1.20,275

118

11. Sustainable cities and communities

4.1176

5.0000

1.12,879

119

12. Responsible consumption and production

3.9068

4.0000

1.28,760

118

13. Climate action

3.8583

4.0000

1.33,029

120

14. Life below water

3.0522

3.0000

1.54,377

115

15. Life on land

3.2500

3.0000

1.47,368

116

16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

4.3782

5.0000

1.00,837

119

17. Partnerships for the goals

3.9487

4.0000

1.26,523

117

Appendix 3: Qualitative Results

Original coding tree

Code group

Code

Grounded

Density

Collaboration

Community*

46

11

Collaboration

23

12

Finding solutions*

13

11

Communication

12

17

Relationships*

12

14

Sharing solutions*

6

0

Sharing*

4

4

Exchange

2

2

Networks

2

2

Sharing ideas

1

4

Sharing feelings

1

2

Participation*

1

1

Solutions*

1

1

Diversity

Awareness*

64

27

Community*

46

11

Engagement*

45

13

Diversity*

36

27

Inclusivity*

33

15

Equality*

28

14

Ethics—value—morals*

28

0

Empathy*

27

19

Empowerment

24

22

Social change*

19

4

Relationships*

12

14

Accessibility*

10

6

To sensitise*

6

11

Connection*

5

4

Sharing*

4

4

Unification*

2

2

Sensitise*

1

4

Participation*

1

1

Social cohesion*

1

1

Socialisation*

1

1

Self-esteem*

1

1

Economic aspects

Skills and competences*

94

28

Innovation*

55

18

Development*

45

28

Economy

28

0

Employment

6

6

Growth

1

6

Prosperity

1

1

Success and career

1

1

Empathy

Awareness*

64

27

Engagement*

45

13

Diversity*

36

27

Inclusivity*

33

15

Equality*

28

14

Ethics—value—morals*

28

0

Empath*

27

19

Understanding

22

17

Peace

14

0

Feelings

6

15

To sensitise*

6

11

Sensitise*

1

4

Deepen feelings for human values

1

2

Identity

Expression and emotion

72

32

Imagination

26

19

Identity

17

13

Embodiment

11

0

Self-confidence

8

10

Inspiration

3

4

Confidence

3

3

Self-esteem*

1

1

Participation and society

Community*

46

11

Development*

45

28

Diversity*

36

27

Inclusivity*

33

15

Society

32

0

Equality*

28

14

Social change*

19

4

Interaction

16

1

Relationships*

12

14

Change

10

6

Accessibility*

10

6

Lifelong learning*

10

0

Connection*

5

4

Unification*

2

2

Participation*

1

1

Social cohesion*

1

1

Socialisation*

1

1

Transform societies

1

0

Skills

Creativity

96

27

Skills and competences*

94

28

Innovation*

55

18

Critical thinking

40

14

Problem-solving

32

16

Reflection

21

13

Finding solutions*

13

11

Lifelong learning*

10

0

Thinking outside the box

6

4

Sharing solutions*

6

0

Re-thinking

3

4

Become more critical and reflexive

1

3

Making decisions

1

3

Solutions*

1

1

Learning

1

0

Well-being

Happiness and well-being

37

31

Good health

16

11

Better life

7

9

To sensitise*

6

11

Pleasure

1

5

Sensitise*

1

4

To experience beauty

1

3

Feeling good

1

2

Meaningful life

1

2

To be moved

1

2

Good life

1

1

Satisfying life

1

1

Self-esteem*

1

1

Uncategorised

Life

46

0

Arts as an instrument/platform

33

0

non-formal and informal education

31

0

Policy and politics

31

0

No expert, not relevant, BUT…

21

0

Well-rounded education

8

0

Aesthetic

5

1

Enjoyment

4

10

Knowledge

3

6

Boundlessness

3

3

Curiosity

2

5

Transformation

2

2

Emergency

1

2

New coding tree

Main category

Central codes

Codes

Grounded

Density

Innovation

Creativity

Aesthetic

5

1

  

Change

10

6

Creativity

96

27

Curiosity

2

5

Emergency

1

2

Finding solutions

13

11

Imagination

26

19

Innovation

55

18

Inspiration

3

4

Knowledge

3

6

Learning

1

0

Lifelong learning

10

0

Re-thinking

3

4

Reflection

21

13

Sharing

4

4

Sharing ideas

1

4

Thinking outside the box

6

4

Transformation

2

2

Unification

2

2

 

Skills and competences

Well-rounded education

8

0

Arts as an instrument/platform

33

0

Collaboration

23

12

Communication

12

17

Connection

5

4

Critical thinking

41

14

Development

45

28

Economy

28

0

Employment

6

6

Exchange

2

2

Growth

1

6

Making decisions

1

3

Networks

2

2

Policy and politics

31

0

Problem solving

32

16

Prosperity

1

1

Sharing solutions

6

0

Skills and competences

94

28

Solutions

1

1

Success and career

1

1

Transform societies

1

0

Life

Awareness

Aesthetic

5

1

Awareness

64

26

Better life

7

9

Boundlessness

3

3

Confidence

3

3

Connection

5

4

Deepen feelings for human values

1

2

Embodiment

11

0

Emergency

1

2

Ethics—value—morals

28

0

Identity

17

13

Inclusivity

33

15

Reflection

21

13

Satisfying life

1

1

Self-confidence

8

10

Sensitise

7

11

To be moved

1

2

To experience beauty

1

3

Understanding

22

17

 

Development

Accessibility

10

6

Collaboration

23

12

Communication

12

17

Community

46

11

Diversity

36

27

Empowerment

24

22

Engagement

45

13

Equality

28

14

Interaction

16

1

Life

46

0

Meaningful life

1

2

Participation

1

1

Peace

14

0

Relationships

12

14

Self-esteem

1

1

Sharing

4

4

Social change

19

4

Social cohesion

1

1

Socialisation

1

1

Society

32

0

Transformation

2

2

Unification

2

2

Well-rounded education

8

0

 

Expression and emotion

Empathy

27

17

Enjoyment

4

10

Expression and emotion

72

32

Feeling good

1

2

Feelings

6

15

Good health

16

11

Good life

1

1

Happiness and wellbeing

37

31

Life

46

0

Pleasure

1

5

Sharing feelings

1

2

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van Meerkerk, E., Neele, A., van Korven, I. (2021). Inclusion, Life, and Innovation. The Relative Uses of Arts Education in Relation to the Sustainable Development Goals. In: Wagner, E., Svendler Nielsen, C., Veloso, L., Suominen, A., Pachova, N. (eds) Arts, Sustainability and Education. Yearbook of the European Network of Observatories in the Field of Arts and Cultural Education (ENO). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-3452-9_12

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