#ArtGoals

Abstract

This qualitative case study investigated the challenges and opportunities for fostering artistic engagement in early adolescent students. As developmental stages are likely to be factor, the experiences of three middle school teachers were analyzed to identify strategies for nurturing artistic engagement in this population. A constant comparative method of analysis of interview data revealed the following themes: the importance of artistic engagement, how to recognize it, challenges with fostering this type of engagement and strategies for overcoming them, opportunities for promoting artistic engagement, the developmental needs of adolescent students, their relationship to artistic engagement and the implications for the secondary art curriculum. Ultimately, it was found that while stages of development do influence artistic engagement, extrinsic motivators also play a role. Challenges, however, can be mediated by a constructivist approach to art education, as it motivates and empowers students to become responsible for their learning, through the creation of meaningful artwork.