Using the Visual Arts to Harness Creativity

Abstract

This paper illustrates the potential of the visual arts to be an engine that drives creativity and innovation in school settings. It is also reasoned, that the visual arts, as with other creative arts disciplines, will not become important and necessary engines for change in education without a determination to critically review arts pedagogies and to connect curriculum reform to creativity research and innovations occurring in other fields. These themes are explored through a review of literature pertinent to the nature of learning in the visual arts, visual arts and creative pedagogies, and teaching visual arts for creativity. Future directions and considerations are proposed in the final section of the paper.