Teacher Artmaker Project

Project Details

The Teacher as Artmaker Project (TAP) is a significant research initiative conducted at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education (MGSE).

Visual Art teachers are somewhat unique amongst the teaching fraternity in that they not only teach, but they must also practice what they preach. Many wish to maintain a private art practice in partnership with quality teaching; in fact, a lot of art teachers believe that their own art making is critical to ‘quality teaching’. However, we all know that this is not an easy task.

TAP is an international first for visual art education, providing for the first time, longitudinal data on teacher’s participation in art production, perceptions of quality of teaching, and expectations of retention in the profession. This information will inform better teacher training and professional development for future generations of art educators.

TAP participants come from successive cohorts of MGSE’s Master of Teaching (Secondary) program. All participants complete an annual survey once they graduate, regardless of their career pathway. A number of volunteers from that group also agree to participate in an annual art exhibition that provides participants with the goals, motivation, and support group to maintain an active art practice during the early years of their teaching career.

Researchers

• Associate Professor Wesley Imms
• Gina Grant
• Sarah Healy
• Kate Coleman
• Julia Morris
• Purnima Ruanglertbutr

Published Research

Teacher Artmaker Project on Facebook

Books

Grant, G & Imms, W. (2015) (Eds.). Reciprocity: Learning from, giving back.Melbourne AUS: The University of Melbourne. ISBN 9780992540470.

Ruanglertbutr, P. & Imms, W. (2014) (Eds.) Connections: Teaching, Art, Life. Melbourne AUS: The University of Melbourne. ISBN 9780992540470.

Imms, W. & Ruanglertbutr, P. (2013). Sensations: Triumphs and torments. Research catalogue for the second annual Teacher Art-maker Project annual exhibition. Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne.

Ruanglertbutr, P. & Imms, W. (2012). Crossing boundaries: The journey from teacher to teaching artist. Catalogue for the inaugural Teacher Art-maker Project annual exhibition. Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne.

Imms, W., & Ruanglertbutr, P. (2013). Can early career teachers be artists as well? Canadian Review of Art Education, 39, pp. 7-23.
Download article

Book Chapters

Imms, W., Cameron, S. & Ruanglertbutr, P. (2015). Trends in longitudinal data reporting early career Visual Art teacher art making experiences. In G. Grant & W. Imms (Eds.), Reciprocity: Learning from, giving back (pp. 93-119). Melbourne AUS: University of Melbourne. ISBN 9780992540470.

Imms, W. & Ruanglertbutr, P. (2014). Teacher Art-maker project research report. In P. Ruanglertbutr & W. Imms, Connections: Teaching, Art, Life. (68-93). Melbourne Australia: University of Melbourne. ISBN 9780992540401.

Journal Articles

Imms, W. & Healy, S. (2016). The Teacher Art-maker Project: Towards the phenomenon of the teacher as a practitioner. Journal of Artistic and Creative Education, 10(1), 88-97.

Imms, W., & Ruanglertbutr, P. (2013). The teacher as an art maker: What do new teachers identify as ‘the issues’. Australian Art Education, 35(1&2), pp. 81-92.

Ruanglertbutr, P. & Imms, W. (2013). Crossing Boundaries: The Journey from Teacher to Teaching Artist. ARTicle, The Journal of Art Education Victoria, 15(1), pp. 18-26.

Imms, W. & Ruanglertbutr, P. (2012). Can early career teachers be artists as well? Canadian Review of Art Education, 39, 7-23.

Imms, W. & Ruanglertbutr, P. (2012). The teacher as an art maker: What do new teachers identify as ‘the issues’. Australian Art Education, 35(2).

Imms, W. (2012) (Editor). Teacher as Art-maker Special Issue. Six critical essays by participants in this research. Journal of Artistic and Creative Education, 6(2

Imms, W. (2011). Editorial: Artistry and the ‘personal’ in education. Journal of Artistic and Creative Education, 5(1), 1-4.

Imms, W. (2011). Editorial: Reflections from the intersection of the personal and the professional: How poetry, art of the everyday, and art for social activism inform the implementation of curriculum. Journal of Artistic and Creative Education, 5(2), 5-9.

Imms, W. (2011). Architecture, craftsmanship, and the art of inhabitation. Journal of Artistic and Creative Education, 5(2), 94-109.

Imms, W. & Ruanglertbutr, P. (2010). The teacher as an art maker: A commentary on the current literature. Journal of Artistic and Creative Education, 3(2), 3-12.

Imms, W. (2010). Habitation: Occupying space in the National Curriculum. Australian Art Education, 33,(Special Issue).

Imms, W. (2008). Editorial: Artistry and education: four perspectives. Journal of Artistic and Creative Education, 2(1), 1-3.

Exhibition Catalogues

Grant, G., & Imms, W. (Editors). (2016).  Resolutions: Creating liminal spaces. Research catalogue of the fifth annual Teacher Artmaker Project exhibition. Printed in Melbourne, November 2016. Download catalogue (4mb)

Grant, G., & Imms, W. (Editors). (2015).  Reciprocity: Learning from, giving back. Research catalogue of the fourth annual Teacher Artmaker Project exhibition. Printed in Melbourne, November 2015. Download catalogue (4mb)

Ruanglertbutr, P. (Editor.). (2013). Sensations of Art-making: Triumphs, Torments and Risk-taking, Exhibition catalogue of the second Teacher Artmaker Project Exhibition. Printed in Melbourne, October 2013. Download exhibition catalogue(3mb)

Ruanglertbutr, P. (2012). (Editor). Crossing Boundaries: The Journey from Teacher to Teaching Artist. Printed in the University of Melbourne.
Download exhibition catalogue(4.5mb)

Conference presentations

Teachers as ‘practitioners’: Researching some myths about ‘staying active’ during early-career teaching. (Imms, W. & Ruangertbutr, P.). World Congress on Education, Dublin, Ireland.  October 19-21, 2015. (80 abstracts blind-peer reviewed from 950 submitted.)

‘Doing’ as well as teaching: The effect of active practice on teaching quality.  (Imms, W. & Ruangertbutr, P.)  Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE), Brisbane, 1-4 December 2014.

To do or not to do? Trends in longitudinal data concerning new Visual Art teachers’ art making, including impact on production, quality of teaching, and employment retention. (Imms, W. & Ruangertbutr, P.) International Society for Education in the Arts (InSEA). Melbourne , July 2014.

Ruanglertbutr, P. (February 17 2014). A Community of Artist-Teachers. Keynote opening lecture for Exhibition – Public Hanging XVII, Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne. (Presentation by invitation and travel grant of $1,000).
Download article(2.5mb) | Download invitation(2.5mb)

Imms, W. & Ruanglertbutr, P. (2012). Can early career teachers be artists as well? First International Artist as Teacher Conference, Oslo, Norway September 2012 (presentation by invitation)
Download presentation(4.5mb)

Ruanglertbutr, P. & Imms, W. (2012) Can early career teachers both teach and make art? ART IMPACT. Art Education Victoria state conference. November 2012.
Download presentation(5.2mb) & Download conference program(103.7kb)

Architecture, craftsmanship and the art of inhabitation. Paper presented at the 33^rd International Society for Education Through the Arts (InSEA) World Congress, Hungary. 25^thJune 2011.