The Art Ecosystem. Promoting Innovation, Inclusive Learning and Active Citizenship

This paper describes some aspects of the integrated model for research, education, innovation and development devised and experienced at the Artigianelli Institute in Trento (IT), in cooperation with the University of Trento (IT). The model, which draws on systems thinking and complexity theory, sets out to build a learning ecosystem which includes different actors and partners, and transcends the dualism of school/business, education/innovation, learning/development. The model grew out of a research project which was initially designed to explore new modes of integrating students (14-18 years old) with disabilities into Italian high schools. It has proven to work, both in terms of helping all the students to develop their cognitive, emotional and relational potential, and also as a resource for partner enterprises, in their endeavours to innovate and generate new business opportunities. The elimination of the division of knowledge into subjects and students into age determined classes is key to this innovation, which opens the way to new teaching methods capable of promoting active citizenship and better valorizing the different potentials of every student. The diversity of the students capacities and interests thus effectively becomes a value.