Contribution of Applied Arts in Child-art Education: A Practice of Creativity for Educators

Abstract

This research applied the "Communal Graphic play" approach to child-art education in a specific area of Iran where children have different religious orientations and backgrounds. The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine how an improvisational "Communal Graphic Play" can be applied in a society where children have different backgrounds. At the first step of research, it was understood that due to significant different backgrounds, children were not able to accept each other as a team. It requires some other activities such as performance art as a solution to prepare children for working on visual art education. Data was collected through focus group interviews, participant observations, and literature review. Describing, classifying, and interpreting data were the central core of data analysis. The findings of the research indicate that one cannot attempt to simply import the Communal Graphic Play method. Rather it needs to be redefined and redesigned based on the culture, environment, and children's issues. Thus, redesigning the method of performance art plays a significant role in this case study.