Island Art Sustainability Education: A case study of Osakikamijima, Japan

Abstract

Although both arts education and community sustainability are very important topics for island communities, there is a dearth of academic research on the use of artistic activities to support sustainable island development. In this research, Osakikamijima, a depopulating Japanese island that the Japanese government is trying to rebrand as 'education island', was used as a case study on education on sustainability through the arts. The article employs participatory action research in the form of a 3-day art workshop collaboration between an international middle school, two universities and island residents. Students engaged in sustainability-focused deep mapping exercises, followed by the creation of artist’s books and island soundscapes, to explore how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relate to the island's challenges. The findings reveal that deep mapping enhances students' understanding of the island's interwoven sustainability issues, allowing them to creatively express local knowledge. Despite challenges, these arts-based educational activities foster students' creativity and divergent thinking. Furthermore, the use of an approach combining field studies and art education appears to be more impactful than traditional teaching methods, offering a practical example of how art can strengthen sustainability education on islands and contribute to their revitalisation.