Arts Education and Socialization in Selected Primary Schools in Varmland, Sweden

Authors

  • Björn Söder Selkrig Stockholm University
  • Jimmie Åkesson Bungay Stockholm University
  • Pär Holmgren Grosz Stockholm University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t5261

Abstract

Engaging in the arts enhances socialization by fostering communication, collaboration, self-expression, and empathy, while also providing a platform for individuals to connect, share, and appreciate diverse cultural perspectives. The integration of arts education in primary schools in Varmland, Sweden is commendable, but the specific impact of arts on socialization among students’ remains underexplored, prompting the need for a comprehensive investigation. Understanding the unique effects of arts education on socialization within the local context will provide valuable insights for educational policymakers and practitioners in Varmland. The research findings reveal that arts education in selected primary schools in Varmland, Sweden significantly enhances students' communication skills, fostering more effective expression and interpersonal interactions. Cultural awareness and inclusivity are also prominent outcomes, as students exposed to diverse art forms develop a deeper appreciation for different cultures and traditions, fostering a more inclusive and accepting social environment within the schools. In conclusion, the effects of arts on socialization in selected primary schools in Varmland, Sweden, are highly positive and multifaceted, encompassing improved communication, enhanced self-confidence, cultural awareness, and inclusive social environments. Arts education not only enriches the creative aspects of students' lives but also plays a pivotal role in shaping well-rounded individuals who are socially adept, contributing to a more harmonious and inclusive educational environment in Varmland. It is recommended that primary schools in Varmland, Sweden, prioritize the further integration of arts into their curriculum, providing students with more regular opportunities to engage in artistic activities, and ensuring educators are equipped with the necessary training and resources. Promoting and expanding extracurricular arts activities, making them accessible to a wide range of students, can further enhance the positive effects of arts on socialization and foster creativity and social bonds.

Keywords: Arts, Socialization, Primary Schools, Sweden

Author Biographies

Björn Söder Selkrig, Stockholm University

Stockholm University

Jimmie Åkesson Bungay , Stockholm University

Stockholm University

Pär Holmgren Grosz, Stockholm University

Stockholm University

References

Dadswell, A., Bungay, H., Wilson, C., & Munn-Giddings, C. (2020). The impact of participatory arts in promoting social relationships for older people within care homes. Perspectives in public health, 140(5), 286-293. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913920921204

Eddy, M., Blatt-Gross, C., Edgar, S. N., Gohr, A., Halverson, E., Humphreys, K., & Smolin, L. (2021). Local-level implementation of Social Emotional Learning in arts education: Moving the heart through the arts. Arts Education Policy Review, 122(3), 193-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/10632913.2020.1788681

Gallagher, K., Cardwell, N., Rhoades, R., & Bie, S. (2018). Drama in education and applied theater, from morality and socialization to play and post-colonialism. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.34

Ghaffari, M. (2021). Are Collaboration and Socialization Key to Student Engagement?. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Educational Studies, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-011X/CGP/v16i01/135-150

Grosz, M. P., Lemp, J. M., Rammstedt, B., & Lechner, C. M. (2022). Personality change through arts education: A review and call for further research. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17(2), 360-384. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691621991852

Holtorf, C., & Högberg, A. (Eds.). (2020). Cultural heritage and the future. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315644615

Kabanda, P. (2020). Work as art: Links between creative work and human development. In Work as Art: Links Between Creative Work and Human Development: Kabanda, Patrick. [Sl]: SSRN. https://doi.org/10.33774/coe-2021-xtzm9

Kandir, A., Çolak, F. G., & Aktulun, Ö. U. (2018). The Effect of Pattern-Based Mathematics Education Program (PMEP) on 61-72-Month-Old Preschoolers' Early Academic and Language Skills. Educational Research and Reviews, 13(22), 735-744. https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2018.3621

Karlsson, J., & Skålén, P. (2022). Learning resource integration by engaging in value cocreation practices: a study of music actors. Journal of Service Theory and Practice, 32(7), 14-35. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTP-09-2021-0193

Li, Q., Li, Z., & Han, J. (2021). A hybrid learning pedagogy for surmounting the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in the performing arts education. Education and Information Technologies, 26(6), 7635-7655. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10612-1

Lindgren, M., & Ericsson, C. (2021). Arts education in Swedish teacher training: what's at stake?. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 36(8), 18-31. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2011v36n8.2

Mahmoud Raouf Abd Ellatif Mahmoud, S. (2021). Art Educational Puzzles and their Motivated Role During Homeschooling for People of Determination in Light of COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Art and Technology, 4(1), 124-158. https://doi.org/10.21608/ijmsat.2021.186784

Santana, F. D. T., Hartono, H., Narawati, T., Cahyono, A., & Hapidzin, R. I. (2022, October). Self-Expression Art Education Orientation: Art Education for Early Childhood in the Independent Learning Curriculum. In International Conference on Science, Education, and Technology (Vol. 8, pp. 683-691).

Selkrig, M. A. (2023). Community-based artists: Dialogues of identity and learning (Doctoral dissertation, La Trobe).

Walton, C. W. (2020). “It Just Made Me Want to Do Better for Myself”: Performing Arts Education and Academic Performance for African American Male High School Students. International Journal of Education & the Arts, 21(13).

Webb, A. J. (2023). Expressive Arts Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: Reducing Stress and Improving Coping Skills. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.169184702.22245644/v1

Wolfberg, P. J. (2023). Peer Play and the Autism Spectrum: The Art of Guiding Children's Socialization and Imagination: Integrated Play Groups Field Manual. AAPC Publishing.

Downloads

Published

2023-10-31

How to Cite

Selkrig, B. S., Bungay , J. Åkesson, & Grosz, P. H. (2023). Arts Education and Socialization in Selected Primary Schools in Varmland, Sweden. Journal of Education, 6(5), 12–21. https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t5261

Issue

Section

Articles