Our research group brings together researchers and practitioners (teachers and artists) interested in the relationship between disciplines or fields in the Arts and Humanities and Education. Our aim is to explore what an education in the Arts and/or Humanities makes possible and in what ways it is of value. In a time when education is increasingly defined in terms of its utility, the question arises: Why should education care about the Arts and Humanities? What kind of an education is gained through these "disciplines" and why is it important? What, for example, is the purpose of what is often termed a "liberal education" or "liberal arts education" in our society today and tomorrow? Our group brings together those whose work explores or, perhaps, even champions the value of teaching Arts and Humanities in schools and universities, and the role of aesthetic experiences in educational processes more widely. We welcome those engaged in arts-based methodologies, especially where the research is focused on the potential of the Arts and Humanities to educate. Terms such as "liberal education" and "liberal arts education" are far from clearly defined and often contested. Our connection to them is centred around the desire to explore the possibility and potentials of an education liberated from economic or political agendas. We take inspiration from a range of thinkers in philosophy, the post-critical humanities, more-than-human approaches and affect studies. We seek to bring together a variety of perspectives that help to explore the potential of the Arts and Humanities – philosophy, anthropology, history, literature, visual arts, dance, music, theatre, film, design – to undergird such an education.Other questions for exploration include: What is the practice and pedagogy of a liberal arts education?How can the Arts and Humanities be defended as significant and valuable aspects of the curriculum?What can we learn from the Arts and Humanities about education, theoretical and practical?What is the role of such "disciplines" in an increasingly technology-driven world? In what ways are they important in the context of Artificial Intelligence and automation?What is the nature of aesthetic experience and what does that tell us about aesthetic education?What is the role of Art in aesthetic education? What is the role of beauty? What is the role of nature and the outdoors?How is "Art" taught? How might one become a writer, artist, dancer?In what ways do attention, care and craft matter in the Arts and in Education?How is the practice of teaching artful? And in what ways are artworks and artful narratives teacherly? Study Our group is affiliated with the following programmes and courses: PostgraduateMSc EducationSpecific Courses:The Philosophy of EducationPhilosophy of Education - Future DirectionsThe Anthropology of Education and LearningMSc Dance Science and EducationPGDE (Secondary) in English, Drama, Music, Art and Design, Design and Technology, HistoryMA Film Directing UndergraduateMA (Hons) Interdisciplinary FuturesSpecific Courses:Creating Edinburgh: The interdisciplinary cityInterdisciplinary Methods Members The Arts and Humanities Education research group's steering group and members. Research Arts and Humanities Education research group's current research projects. This article was published on 2026-01-13
