Waldorf Matters … The Place and Value of Art

Mrs Sue Dutton is our Subject Guardian for Craft at Elmfield, is our Art Teacher as well as being the Class 11 Guardian. In our weekly blog series about key aspects of Steiner Waldorf education, Sue discusses the significance of Art within the Waldorf curriculum.

Waldorf education aims to teach children holistically and, as such, Visual Art is not viewed as an ‘add on’ or a ‘luxury’ but rather it is a fundamental in supporting the child in their entirety: in particular, the harmonious development of their inner life. Their soul.

Art in a Waldorf School is not merely skill based. Art offers opportunities for self-discovery , fulfillment, and a link to the spiritual world.

The benefits of Art, and being creative, are also well documented outside of the Waldorf community. Scholarly articles cite numerous research studies that support the many benefits of being creative and being exposed to Art. Art is used as a therapeutic tool for physical and mental health and whilst the UK government still prioritises academic subjects in schools, many fail to see and would not argue against the benefits of Art and creativity.

Art is fun.

There are lots of media and techniques to explore and play with. There is no right or wrong to self-expression and children are free to create out of themselves rather than be confined to a set of assessment criteria, unless working for an art qualification.

Art invokes joy and also frustration, and in doing so, it supports the will and fosters a resilience to work through the resistance of different materials and processes.

It stimulates and excites the imagination, encourages exploration and self-expression to enable the child and the adult! to explore and develop an interest in the world around them. It also facilitates problem solving capacities, critical thinking, and innovation. It evokes in us emotions that can make us feel truly alive, elated, and feelings of intense pain and empathy. It can also facilitate confidence and raise self-esteem and self-worth.

Art is not only for children who, at a point in time, are not strong academically: many academic thinkers are also artistic. The Famous Renaissance artist and polymath Leonardo Da Vinci, despite creating exceptional art, was also an accomplished engineer and scientist.

However, Art, I believe, can hold a place to support diversity and promote self worth.  When a child succeeds in Art, having believed that they are not able in other subjects, maybe having compared themselves to their peers, or at that moment they are not awake to conceptual thinking, the joy of succeeding  can help them to feel confident and worthy. 

Seeing such benefits of creating in the Art room at Elmfield. I am reminded daily why I chose to teach Art. The excitement of seeing what comes from them is  superseded by the moment when a child realises that what comes from themselves can be and is fundamentally beautiful and their confidence and esteem visibly sores, or to see them struggle and persevere and succeed. Watching them walk out of the art room, nourished, calmer and visibly taller than when they walked in is a special privilege.

Watching them walk out of the art room, nourished, calmer and visibly taller than when they walked in is a special privilege.