Teaching Contemporary Art to Children: Insights from Italian Educators
Artribune invited ten experts in pedagogy, museum education, and the art sector to reflect on the dialogue between art and childhood during a time of isolation and distance learning. The contributors include Alessio Bertini (Palazzo Strozzi, Florence), Laura Valente (Museo Madre, Naples), Maura Pozzati (art historian), Angela D'Urso (La Chimera, San Vito dei Normanni), Elena Minarelli (Collezione Peggy Guggenheim, Venice), Paola Noè (Unduetrestellababy), Carlo Tamanini (MART, Rovereto), Maria Rapagnetta (Incontrarsi nell'Arte, Bologna), Elisabetta Dusi (Si Parte!, Rome), and Marco Peri (art historian). Key themes include the openness of children to contemporary art, the need for experiential learning, the role of museums as inclusive spaces, and the importance of avoiding rigid technicalities. Specific initiatives mentioned: Madre per il Sociale (over 2,600 participants since 2018), MuseoFuturo program co-created with Jeffrey Schnapp, and La Chimera's school for children. The article was published in Artribune Magazine #58.
Key facts
- Artribune invited ten experts to discuss teaching contemporary art to children.
- Alessio Bertini from Palazzo Strozzi notes children have less mental rigidity than adults.
- Laura Valente from Museo Madre highlights the museum's inclusive education platform Madre per il Sociale, involving over 2,600 participants since 2018.
- Maura Pozzati emphasizes observing and playing with artworks rather than explaining them.
- Angela D'Urso runs La Chimera, a school of contemporary art for children in San Vito dei Normanni.
- Elena Minarelli from Collezione Peggy Guggenheim stresses the museum's role in developing aesthetic sensitivity.
- Paola Noè describes children as unexpected viewers of contemporary art, citing Alighiero Boetti's work.
- Carlo Tamanini from MART advocates for frequent direct, immersive experiences with art.
- Maria Rapagnetta's methodology centers on children's emotions and questions.
- Elisabetta Dusi from Si Parte! believes no artwork is inaccessible to children.
- Marco Peri argues contemporary art should be a tool for reading reality, not an end in itself.
- The article was published in Artribune Magazine #58.
Entities
Artists
- Alighiero Boetti
- Jeffrey Schnapp
- Alessio Bertini
- Laura Valente
- Maura Pozzati
- Angela D'Urso
- Elena Minarelli
- Paola Noè
- Carlo Tamanini
- Maria Rapagnetta
- Elisabetta Dusi
- Marco Peri
- Santa Nastro
- Annalisa Trasatti
Institutions
- Artribune
- Palazzo Strozzi
- Museo Madre
- La Chimera
- Collezione Peggy Guggenheim
- Unduetrestellababy
- MART
- Incontrarsi nell'Arte
- Si Parte!
- Artribune Magazine
Locations
- Florence
- Italy
- Naples
- San Vito dei Normanni
- Venice
- Rovereto
- Bologna
- Rome