artsdannelse

Artsdannelse is a Danish concept in education that denotes the formation of a person through engagement with arts and culture. It emphasizes developing personal and social competences such as creativity, reflective judgment, empathy, aesthetic sensibility, and civic responsibility, rather than solely acquiring technical skills or factual knowledge. In this view, learning is about how artistic experiences shape one’s sense of meaning, voice, and responsibility in a plural society.

Practically, artsdannelse is pursued through activities in visual arts, music, theatre, dance, literature, design, and media, often in cross-disciplinary projects. Students participate in production and reception—creating and interpreting art, while connecting it to cultural, historical, and ethical contexts. Assessment tends to rely on portfolios, performances, exhibitions, peer feedback, and self-reflection, sometimes alongside traditional tests, with an emphasis on growth over time rather than one-off evaluation.

Historically, artsdannelse draws on the Danish concept of "dannelse" (formation), rooted in the broader European Bildung tradition. It treats education as a formative process aimed at developing autonomous, capable, and ethically aware citizens who can participate thoughtfully in democratic life and engage with others across cultures.

In policy and practice, discussions focus on how to integrate artsdannelse into curricula and teacher education, balance it with other subjects, and determine effective ways to assess it. Advocates contend that it enhances motivation, cultural literacy, inclusion, and creativity, while critics note challenges in measurement, resource needs, and ensuring consistent implementation across schools.