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Progressive learning environments for cultural development and exchange in South Africa

Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2024.

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Other Authors: Van Aswegen, Anika
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2024
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Van Aswegen, Anika
author_browse Van Aswegen, Anika
author_facet Van Aswegen, Anika
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:39:58.654Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2024
publishDateRange 2024
publishDateSort 2024
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/98894 Progressive learning environments for cultural development and exchange in South Africa Van Aswegen, Anika juliaktucker@gmail.com Tucker, Julia UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Cultural development and exchange Progressive learning environments Adult learning Epistemic diversity Human-environmental interfaces Arts and learning Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2024. Conventional static art exhibition practices hinder the potential for art to cultivate meaningful connections and transformative learning within adult communities. This is particularly relevant in South Africa as knowledge and cultural practices are expanding, yet these environments are not evolving at the same pace. This emphasises the growing need to adopt more progressive spatial strategies that foster engaged learning, collaboration and participation by adopting an edu-curation approach that aligns with the country’s ever-evolving diverse cultural, social, and educational needs. By analysing the literature, empirical evidence, and curatorial and teaching practices in art and cultural institutions and learning environments, this study aims to provide the spatial strategies that expand human-environmental interfaces to enable epistemic diversity and multiple intelligences towards cultural development and exchange in South Africa. The study is situated in a constructivist philosophical worldview and interpretative framework, where multiple realities and perspectives are valued equally in the construction of meaning. Qualitative research was conducted through participatory action research (PAR) sessions and arts-based research (ABR) activities. Postgraduate students and staff from the University of Pretoria (UP) Department of Architecture and Faculty of Education, as well as the Javett-UP Curatorial Team, were participants in this process, consequently serving as co-researchers in the study. During the ABR and PAR sessions, it was discovered that collaboration and co-creation are necessary for transformative learning and cultural development and exchange to occur amongst diverse audience members. The ABR activities revealed that using a diverse array of artistic mediums as a tool for self-expression serves as a powerful means of acquiring and conveying knowledge, thereby fostering epistemic diversity. Environments that foster these activities encourage collaboration, experimentation, and the exchange of ideas, ultimately supporting a richer, more creative, and inclusive way of knowing. The findings also revealed that transformative change begins at a human scale. Intervening with the immediate environment will impact external influences when viewed in an ecosystem of learning. This involves a synthesis between responsive and enabling top-down policies with evolving bottom-up perspectives. A shift is required in the consideration of people in art and cultural contexts - the reference to individuals and audience members should be replaced by collaborators and co-creators instead. This shift embraces their role as active participants in their learning environment which will allow them to make meaningful connections and contributions to their own lives and the people around them. Progressive spatial strategies should be adaptive and responsive to the changing needs of collaborators through means of spatial agency that enables them to adapt and shape their own learning experience. Spatial strategies should consider the intimacy and intentionality of settings that can accommodate multiple arts-based activities for collaborators to engage in skills and knowledge exchange. This indicates that conventional spatial practices should be challenged by refocusing on a human-centred approach that fosters co-creation and collaboration amongst multiple collaborators. New ways of thinking where perspectives and ways of spatial interaction could be transformed are through progressive approaches that necessitate change on a human scale. This reveals that small significant change equals big impact over time leading to cultural development and exchange in South Africa. Architecture MArch (Prof) Unrestricted Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology SDG-04: Quality Education SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities 2024-11-01T14:00:42Z 2024-11-01T14:00:42Z 2025-04 2024-06 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/98894 10.25403/UPresearchdata.27330774 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Cultural development and exchange
Progressive learning environments
Adult learning
Epistemic diversity
Human-environmental interfaces
Arts and learning
Progressive learning environments for cultural development and exchange in South Africa
title Progressive learning environments for cultural development and exchange in South Africa
title_full Progressive learning environments for cultural development and exchange in South Africa
title_fullStr Progressive learning environments for cultural development and exchange in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Progressive learning environments for cultural development and exchange in South Africa
title_short Progressive learning environments for cultural development and exchange in South Africa
title_sort progressive learning environments for cultural development and exchange in south africa
topic UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Cultural development and exchange
Progressive learning environments
Adult learning
Epistemic diversity
Human-environmental interfaces
Arts and learning
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/98894