Ráhkis báiki – Dear Place: New Genre Arctic Art Education Facing Change in Sápmi

This study explores how new genre Arctic art education (AAE) can support Sámi and multicultural communities during environmental and societal transformation. It examines how art education can create spaces for children to encounter and interpret change within their sociocultural environments. Grounded in community-based art education and AAE, the research uses an art-based action research approach. Two workshops in Sápmi engaged children in exploring change through art. Visual and written documentation of the creative processes and outcomes are analysed through reflective thematic approaches to understand how children make meaning of their surroundings. Findings show that art education and public artworks can communicate children’s perspectives to wider audiences and decision-makers. The study highlights the potential of AAE to strengthen resilience and agency among Arctic children.