You are warmly invited to join the online course starting on Friday, 6 February 2026.
Students will work in international, cross-disciplinary teams to explore the role and potential of arts and culture in social activism, learning how art can foster dialogue, challenge norms, and drive social change.
But, where's the line between highlighting injustice and exploiting it, and when does participation become manipulation?
Upon completion of the course, students shall:
- be able to explain how art and culture reflect, interacts with, and influences society.
- be able to give examples of diverse working methods and contexts of Socially Engaged Arts-practices
- be able to explain ethical concerns related to participatory art practices and art in the public sphere.
- be able to explain basic terms related to the multidisciplinary field of Socially Engaged Arts
Students will earn 2.5 ECTS credits upon completion.
The course is based on a flipped-classroom and team-based learning approach. Learning takes place through engaging with course materials on Canvas, working in a small core group, and completing assignments collaboratively based on the materials and shared inquiry.
The course includes six 2-hour online sessions with the teachers in the morning of:
6 February, 6 March, 27 March, 24 April, 15 May, and 29 May.
The final exam takes place on 15 June.
The learning materials have been specifically curated for this course and include interviews and lectures by experts based at universities and cultural institutions across Europe.
The course is offered by the University of Agder as part of the FORTHEM European University Alliance and is open to students from all FORTHEM partner universities, including the University of Jyväskylä.
Course details:
https://www.forthem-alliance.eu/media/events/detailed-view/exploring-societal-art-digital-course
Course start: Friday 6 February 2026 (online)
Students who wish to enrol are encouraged to register by 1 February.
When registering, please first select “Login International Applicant” and then “Register new international applicant.”
