Belonging
It was a joy to gather over the weekend for our annual iJADE Conference, Belonging: Dialogues for culturally responsive art and design education. Superbly curated by Dr Deborah Riding and the iJADE Editorial board, the conference explored how art and design education can be relevant to all learners, and asked:
‘What role can art and design education play in the genuine transformations of our institutions and pedagogies, creating a sense of belonging for all learners? How can we enlist our knowledge, practice and curricula in responding to these challenges?
These are questions that concern us all, whoever and wherever we teach.
We were treated to an international line-up of speakers who were inspiring and provocative, challenging assumptions and definitions of what it means to belong within art and design education. Delegates presented papers with a wide range of responses to these questions, and the debate and discussion across the weekend was rich in inspiration and exchange.
NSEAD Associate Artist Liaqat Rasul, (who many members met during our summer events) led delegates in a meditative, restorative hour of collage and contemplation.
I would like to say a big thanks to all the delegates, speakers, the fabulous iJADE team, and of course the NSEAD officers who worked so hard to make #iJADE22 such a success.
Many of the papers presented will feature in the conference issue of the journal, and recordings of some of the keynote sessions will be available for members to view. To read more about #iJADE22 and to access the full iJADE library, visit our website.
Research and exchange of ideas are the foundation of everything that we do at NSEAD. We are all part of the iJADE ‘Tribe’, a vital, vibrant branch of the NSEAD family tree.
Michele Gregson
General Secretary