Shaping empathy in the classroom: A call for rounded and creative education

By Benedetta Ghione, Art Dubai’s Executive Director

In a world that is rapidly evolving, with exponential technological advancements and complex social challenges, it is clear that providing a rounded and creative education to prepare the leaders of tomorrow is not merely an option, but a necessity. It is through a truly layered educational model that students are best equipped to understand and engage with both the physical and digital worlds around them.

A creative education harmonises traditional learning and fosters diverse thinking by encouraging students to engage through a lens of curiosity and open-mindedness. Thanks to artistic exploration and expression, students encounter a multitude of narratives and cultures, broadening their understanding and nurturing empathy. This approach not only enriches their intellectual and emotional development, but also equips them with the tools to appreciate and navigate the complexities of human experience, enabling a more inclusive and compassionate worldview.

Art, in its various forms, serves as a vital bridge to new perspectives. One of the important roles that artists play is to convey complex emotions and social issues, as well as to allow us direct access to lives and experiences. They invite viewers into a shared space of understanding and connection. They create narratives that go beyond verbal communication. They touch on common experiences that connect us all, allowing us to interact with our own and others’ emotions. Not only does this boost our creative thinking, but it also improves our empathy by helping us to take on different views and see the world through the eyes of others.

Every child, regardless of background or ability, should have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of art, and this is what drives our efforts to develop inclusive programmes that inspire creative thinking and overall well-being. Our commitment at Art Dubai extends beyond running the premier international art fair in the Middle East; we are on a mission to make arts education accessible to all ages, from early childhood to adulthood. We are dedicated to nurturing artistic scholarship and critical discourse, with a special focus on voices from the Global South, through an extensive year-round education and professional development programme.

Bringing all these together is the largest cultural programme of its kind in the UAE – the A.R.M. Holding Children’s Programme – in partnership with private investment firm A.R.M. Holding. By combining our resources and expertise, we have successfully launched a platform in 2021 that enriches the educational landscape, reaching thousands of students nationwide.

Collaborations between private businesses and government or educational bodies can be a powerful catalyst for transformative change. Such partnerships are particularly effective in bridging gaps in resources, enabling the introduction of new ideas, creative educational methodologies, and broader access for students.

This year’s workshop titled “Worlds in a Box” is led by the incredibly talented Goa-based artist Sahil Naik, where children dive into their imaginations, crafting dioramas that reflect their own experiences and the world as they see it. But here’s the twist – they’re also peering into the lives of others, discovering new perspectives, and in doing so, learning empathy hands-on. It is incredible to witness the capacity of young minds engaging critically and creatively with their environment.

We are now in our fourth edition of the programme, and it continues to expand, delivering new concepts year-on-year. This time, we have set an ambitious goal for ourselves to engage 15,000 students of all abilities in over 100 schools across the seven emirates. We provide cultural content as a tool for innovative thinking and problem-solving through a series of artist-led workshops. Designed for children from ages 5 to 17, these workshops provide enriching art experiences and exposure to different artistic practices.

The positive feedback from educators, parents, and students who have previously participated in the Programme inspires us to grow the initiative further. So this year, we are reaching out to schools for children of all abilities and introducing masterclasses for teachers. We recognise that at the heart of transformative creative education lies the empowerment of our educators, equipping them with tools to guide our future innovators and empathetic leaders.

The A.R.M. Holding Children Programme runs until the end of June 2024. Both educators and parents are welcome to register their interest in bringing the workshops to their schools by visiting the Art Dubai website.

As we look to the future, the need for a holistic and creative education becomes increasingly apparent. By committing to a holistic education model, we pave the way for our children to become the leaders our global community so dearly needs. Don’t we want to raise a generation of big-picture thinking, creative, compassionate individuals who can navigate the complexities of the 21st century and deeply understand the diverse world we live in?