Current Call for Submissions

2025 Volume 42, Issue 1

The Arts, Social Movements, and Public Pedagogy 

Inspired by the timeless insights of cultural creatives and public intellectuals such as Toni Morrison, Nina Simone, and James Baldwin, it is evidenced that the arts and artists have consistently responded to pressing societal issues of the times, shaping and reshaping knowledge while challenging the status quo. The ways in which the arts intersect with recent local, regional, national, and global activism underscores the importance of this dialogue. Therefore, we invite submissions for the Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education (jCRAE) Vol. 42 that explore the intersections of the arts, public pedagogy, and social movements. 

Each of these foci plays a distinct yet interconnected role in shaping societal and cultural change. The arts, encompassing a wide range of creative expressions—such as visual arts, music, theater, and literature—have always served as powerful tools for reflection, critique, and mobilization. Public pedagogy refers to educational practices and processes occurring outside formal schooling, highlighting how various forms of knowledge and learning shape public consciousness and civic engagement (Sandlin et al., 2011). Foundational categories of public pedagogy inquiry include (a) dominant cultural discourses, (b) citizenship, (c) informal institutions, (d) popular culture, and (e) public intellectualism. Similarly, social movements are organized efforts by collective groups of individuals to promote or resist change in society, addressing critical issues of human rights, justice, and equity.
 
In our contemporary context, the interplay between these three areas is increasingly significant. Artistic practices often serve as vehicles for public pedagogy, educating and engaging communities in critical discussions about issues of justice, identity, and activism. For instance, public art installations or performances can act as pedagogical interventions that raise awareness about pressing societal issues, from war, to climate change to race, gender and sexual equity. Simultaneously, social movements leverage the arts to amplify their messages, using creative expressions to mobilize support and foster collective action. This intersection highlights how art can function not only as a form of expression but also as a vital pedagogical tool that informs and shapes publics and social movements.
 
We encourage submissions that critically engage with these themes and their intersections. 

Guidelines for this issue

Potential authors should consider how their work addresses questions such as:

  • In what ways do the arts and forms of public pedagogy contribute to the goals of social movements?
  • How can art education foster critical consciousness and civic engagement among learners?
  • How do/have young activists use(d) the arts as a means for social change and what are the implications for public pedagogy?
  • How does the digital landscape influence arts-based forms of activism and education, particularly in the age of social media?
  • How might artists and educators collaborate with local communities to address social issues through creative practices?
  • How do historical perspectives on art and social change inform contemporary pedagogical approaches?
  • In the spirit of civil disobedience, how do artists and educators navigate ethical dilemmas when addressing difficult topics in their practice?
  • Through engagement with social movements, in what ways can an art education foster public consciousness and social responsibility among students, teachers, and the broader community?
  • What are the challenges and opportunities do social movements offer for inclusive and equitable art education?

By exploring these connections, contributors will enhance our understanding of the potential of the arts in relation to public pedagogy and social activism. 

Submission Details

Manuscripts should adhere to the journal's guidelines for format and citation. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2025 by 11:59 PM.

Please submit your papers through the online submission system at https://journals.librarypublishing.arizona.edu/jcrae/. 

Questions?

For inquiries and additional information, please contact the Senior Editor, gloria j. wilson, and their team at jcrae1983@gmail.com.

Download a PDF version of the 2025 Call >

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Sandlin, J. A., O’Malley, M. P., & Burdick, J. (2011). Mapping the Complexity of Public Pedagogy Scholarship: 1894–2010. Review of Educational Research, 81(3), 338-375. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654311413395