Exploring Art, Knowledge, and Pedagogy through Theatre and Drama Inquiry

On December 4th, the Multipurpose Room at Ponderosa Commons came alive with the latest installment of Undisciplined Conversations, an initiative designed to foster
transdisciplinary dialogue and bridge the arts, education, and beyond. This dynamic
event, organized by the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy in collaboration with the Department of Language and Literacy at The University of British Columbia, brought together a vibrant community of scholars, educators, and practitioners for a thought-provoking discussion centred around the intersection of art and inquiry.

The event took inspiration from an unassuming yet profoundly symbolic object—a
brick—referencing Carl Andre’s controversial Equivalent Series. The brick served as a
metaphor to spark conversations around transformative creativity and to pose questions such as: When does something become artful? When do the pursuit of knowledge and the process of creation merge to become one and the same? When does an everyday object, process, performance, experience, or encounter become artful? How can we use the lens of inquiry to uncover the hidden potential of our artistic practices?

We were honoured to host three esteemed speakers:

• Professor Joelle Aden, who explores the enactive paradigm in education and its potential for transdisciplinary methodologies that connect arts and sciences.
• Dr. Chris Summers, a multi-award-winning Australian playwright and Lecturer in Arts Education (Drama), whose work integrates research-based theatre with social justice initiatives.
• Cory Haas, Artistic and Managing Director of Théâtre la Seizième, who shared his experiences in translating and adapting psychological narratives for the
  stage.

Through their diverse expertise, our speakers challenged traditional academic
boundaries, offering insights into how theater and drama inquiry can serve as
transformative tools for education, creativity, and research. The discussions illuminated ways to reimagine pedagogy, integrate everyday practices as artful endeavors, and explore the relational dynamics between art, education, and research.
The session concluded with meaningful dialogue among attendees, who reflected on
how art can transcend its conventional spaces to shape new ways of knowing and
being.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our speakers and attendees for making this event a success. Special thanks to Dr. George Belliveau for his invaluable support in bringing this vision to life.

The session was hybrid, and we hosted diverse contributors from different locations.

This event is organized by the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy in collaboration with the Department of Language and Literacy Education. Together, we will explore the rich possibilities of theater and drama inquiry to expand educational practices. We will also examine how these art forms can transcend conventional academic boundaries, fostering innovative approaches to creativity, contemplative practice, and transdisciplinary research in today’s educational landscape.

This hybrid event offers both in-person and virtual participation. Full event details, including date and location, are available in the attached poster. For the meeting link or further inquiries, please contact Elly Yazdanpanah at elly.yazdanpanah@ubc.ca.

We extend our special thanks to Dr. George Belliveau, Professor in the Department of Language and Literacy Education, whose invaluable support and collaboration have made this event possible.

We warmly encourage everyone to share this invitation within their networks to help foster a rich and diverse dialogue on the intersections of theater, drama, and education!

This NABER (Network of Arts-Based Educational Researchers) event will take place on: Wednesday, December 4th, at 2:00 PM (EST) in the Multipurpose Room, Ponderosa Commons North, PCN 2012. Vancouver, Canada.