Inauguration Dr. John Johnston
- Research
Dr. John Johnston has been appointed UNESCO Chair in Issues-Based Arts Education, Intercultural Dialogue, and Social Cohesion, making ArtEZ the first university of the arts in the Netherlands to host such a Chair.
During this four-year research project, Johnston leads a small team of artists, academics, educators, and socio-cultural professionals to explore how Issues-Based Arts Education can be used to foster intercultural dialogue and strengthen social cohesion.
This Chair allows Johnston to continue and deepen the work that he and his colleagues have been developing over the past nine years. Their focus is Issues-Based Arts Education (IBAE), an approach that’s very different from traditional art education. It places urgent social issues as a point of departure for the creative learning process.
The appointment marks not only a personal milestone for Johnston, but also a significant step for ArtEZ. “It’s quite rare for a university of applied arts to receive this kind of recognition, as what we call traditional research universities normally host UNESCO Chairs,” Johnston explains. What does that mean in practice? “Time,” he says. “Time to build a team, conduct research, and form local and international partnerships. This recognition allows me to focus more deeply on the questions that have underpinned my career and vision on arts education: How can art foster social cohesion, prevent conflict, and promote intercultural dialogue?”
Johnston hopes that with this appointment ArtEZ continues to grow as a place where art is not only made, but also used to drive social change. Beyond ArtEZ, Johnston hopes the Chair will contribute to education that makes a real difference in conflict-affected and vulnerable communities
Johnston’s inauguration will begin at 4:30 p.m., and guests are warmly welcome to arrive from 4:00 p.m. onwards. After the ceremony, we invite everyone to join us for a celebratory toast.
