Artful Dodgers: an arts education research project in early education settings

Abstract

Artful Dodgers is an arts education project developed by two artists and delivered in two early years settings located in two areas of urban disadvantage. It is a music and visual arts programme designed and implemented with early years teachers of children aged 3–5 years. It explored whether the provision of high-quality arts experiences could enhance children’s emerging literacy and numeracy. A novel ‘artist in(formed) residency’ model was developed within a unique arts education research design. Piloting a tripartite relationship between researchers, artists and early years teachers, this study was situated within a qualitative action research paradigm, with both artists located in both services weekly over a 12-week period. The evaluation of the programme indicates changes in pedagogical planning and style in the early years teachers over the period of the artists’ residency. Their language became more reflective and their practice incorporated a wider and richer range of materials; there was greater evidence of more child-led activities and unstructured play opportunities over the duration of the study. The data suggest that children’s social, cooperative and communication skills were enhanced. Recommendations have implications for the professional development of artists and teachers working in early years settings.

Keywords:

• arts education
• early childhood education
• early years practice

Notes on contributors

Nóirín Hayes is a psychologist and Visiting Professor at the School of Education in Trinity College Dublin. Her research interests are in the field of early childhood education with a particular focus on early learning, curriculum and pedagogy. She coordinates the Researching Early Childhood Education Collaborative.

Jackie Maguire is an artist and Research Associate at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin. Her work focuses on the exploration of music with young children, their parents and early years teachers. Although Jackie works predominantly through music, her practice is informed by her formal drama training, which she incorporates as a performative element in her working methodologies.

Lucie Corcoran is a psychologist and researcher based in Dublin, Ireland. Her research focuses mainly on bullying, aggression, cyber behaviour and mental health. Lucie has a particular interest in the application of psychology to educational and health-care settings in order to maximise schoolchildren’s educational attainment and health and well-being.

Carmel O’Sullivan is Head of the School of Education in Trinity College Dublin, and Director of their Arts Education Research Group. Her research interests are in the areas of the arts in early childhood education and the use of social drama with children and young people with autism spectrum disorder.

Notes

1. A music artist and a visual artist were funded by Fingal County Council Arts Office and Fingal County Childcare Committee to work with the Arts Education Research Group in the School of Education in Trinity College Dublin.