Combining their experience in drama and visual arts practices, Katie and Beth bring together visual art and embodied meaning-making strategies to explore and trouble the complexity and importance of facilitating “difficult dialogues” within learning environments.

While this presentation will be especially useful for Human Rights educators, it will also be invaluable for anyone teaching arts, humanities, civics or any other subject for which challenging conversations are an important element of serving the students to the best of our ability.

These sessions involve participants working to make sense and meaning of their experience and the human condition using drama and arts-based dialogic practices - so be ready to join in the conversation!

Beth Link is a Visiting Assistant Professor in Art Education at the University of North Texas. Her research applies critical race theory and critical whiteness to visual art curriculum, enactment, and teacher identity formation to understand the complex ways teachers tell stories through art objects. She received her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in Cultural Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where she also earned an M.A. in Art Education. She formerly taught k-12 art education in public school and museum settings and is currently co-authoring a book on transformative professional learning in Arts Integration.

Katie Dawson uses the arts to increase equity and access in education for all learners. She is an Associate Professor at The University of Texas in Austin, where she heads the MFA in Drama/Theatre for Youth and Communities and the Drama for Schools professional learning program for K-16 educators. Katie has won multiple teaching and research awards. She partners with the US State Department across eastern Europe to improve critical and creative thinking in education. She recently held a two-year appointment in pedagogical innovation at The University of South Australia and The Department for Education focused on creative body-based learning.