Arts-Based Approaches in Childhood Studies and Participatory Readings of/in Urban Peripheries

Arts-based research can be broadly considered in qualitative approaches that integrate creative processes and artistic features into research methods. In childhood studies, arts-based approaches allow the expression of lived experiences and children’s own representations, through different types of literacy and communication (visual, verbal, sound-focused, performing, etc.) beyond the constraints of standard discursive communication, while respecting their agency, overcoming language barriers and amplifying possibly marginalized voices (Hickey-Moody et al., 2021). Through these methodologies, it is possible to generate accessible expressive forms that are sensitive and propose an understanding of the contexts of living (Barone and Eisner, 2012). Working on participatory research with children, we can further consider ethical, engagement and change-related issues (Eckhoff, 2019), and residential contexts such as urban peripheries can be seldom stigmatized and publicly disinvested in various forms.

Based on children’s experiences, which meanings of belonging, care and territory can we capture through their visual expressions? What issues emerge from these arts-based approaches, and what strategies can be developed to address them? What knowledge about these territories can be built from children’s productions?

This work aims to present practices and reflections on visual arts-based research (with drawing, painting and collage workshops) with children living in urban peripheries, with a focused dialogue between São Paulo (Brasil) and Lisbon (Portugal) through an ongoing international academic project on inequalities, disputes and childcare in urban and metropolitan places.

Bibliographic references:

Barone, T. & Eisner, E. (2012). Arts Based Research. Sage.

Eckhoff, A. (Ed.). (2019). Participatory Research with Young Children. Springer.

Hickey-Moody, A. et al. (2021). Arts-Based Methods for Research with Children. Palgrave.