Episode 11 of Why Arts? – Art, Learning, and Democracy with Steve Seidel

In Episode 11 of Why Arts?, I’m in conversation with Steve Seidel — educator, researcher, and the Bauman & Bryant Chair in Arts in Education, Emeritus at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Many of us know Steve for his long-standing contributions to the field of arts education and his work with Project Zero. But in this conversation, he takes us on a more personal journey — reflecting on his own schooling, his years as a theater teacher and actor, and the path that eventually led him into education and research.Before becoming a researcher, Steve spent nearly two decades teaching high-school theater and language arts and working as a professional actor and stage director. Over more than 35 years at Project Zero, his work has explored arts learning, reflective practice, and the close study of student work. He also led the influential research project that resulted in The Qualities of Quality, examining what excellence in arts learning and teaching really looks like.In our conversation, we talk about the role of the arts in shaping how we learn and teach, and how artistic practice can help build more thoughtful and democratic classrooms.One idea Steve shared that stayed with me:Imagine walking through a forest—every discipline is there together. But over time education has separated knowledge into isolated subjects. In reality, like a forest, everything exists in relationship. Those of us who care about integration are trying to bring learning back to that interconnected whole.🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube and Spotify.📲 Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whyarts_wnanvi?igsh=aHRkYWhuMHB2MWVz&utm_source=qr