The Power of Art Education: Visual Arts at the Forefront of Learning
As a Visual Arts teacher, I am continually reminded of the vital role art plays in education. In a rapidly changing world, where innovation, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence are increasingly valued, the arts provide a unique space for students to develop these essential skills. The Arts nurtures critical thinking, encourages risk-taking, and fosters deep reflection, inviting students to engage with the world and themselves in meaningful and creative ways.
At Cranbrook, we believe in the transformative power of authentic learning experiences. Our Visual Arts programme offers students across all year levels the opportunity to extend their thinking and refine their technical skills through a wide range of experiences, both in and beyond the classroom. Whether sketching at the harbour, exploring urban rhythm through photography, or viewing local and international exhibitions, our students are exposed to professional practices and contemporary ideas that fuel their own creative development.
One recent highlight was a portrait painting workshop led by practising artist and National Art School educator Stephanie Eather. Students from Year 10 MYP and the IB DP Year 11 and 12 IB DP were guided through a series of expressive painting exercises that challenged them to abandon realism and explore emotion and form through colour, tone, and gesture. Working with non-representational palettes and focusing on the planes of the face, students created powerful self-portraits that revealed not only their growing technical skill but also their willingness to step outside their comfort zones, a hallmark of deep artistic learning.
Importantly, our students are also encouraged to think critically about the role of the artist, audience, and artwork in society. This is a key part of our philosophy and is deeply embedded in programs such as the IB Diploma Visual Arts course, where senior students explore and reflect upon global artistic practices while developing highly individualised bodies of work. The course fosters independence, intellectual curiosity, and an appreciation of diverse cultural perspectives, skills that are not only essential to artmaking, but to life beyond school.
This year alone, students have had the chance to work with practising artists, engage with major exhibitions such as ARTEXPRESS, the Archibald Prize, and Cao Fei, and participate in practical workshops that push the boundaries of their creativity. These moments, alongside the sustained work they produce in class, illustrate the strength of a Visual Arts education—one that develops confident, empathetic and globally-minded learners.
Art education is not just about creating, it’s about building the capacity to observe, to question, and to communicate. In a world that needs creative problem-solvers more than ever, Visual Arts remains an essential part of a well-rounded education.
Katherine Young
Assistant Head of Department – Visual Arts
