Engaging Students with Justice Topics Through Art Integration

This study presents the outcomes of research conducted with first-year students at a University in South Florida, USA (Lewis, 2024). Employing an action research methodology, seven students volunteered with informed consent to participate in this qualitative investigation. The data collection methods included pre-and post-surveys, interviews, and student journals. The integration of visual art was utilized to examine the participants' engagement with justice-related topics that they selected independently. The approach to art integration in this study involved participants learning about both art and justice topics through the creation of art. This research explores participants’ engagement that emerged from blending art with justice topics. These topics encompassed issues such as reproductive rights, U.S. foreign conflicts, mental health, substance abuse, and environmental concerns. The study examines participants’ experiences and perceptions of engagement with integrating visual art into justice-related topics. Participants conveyed that art enhanced their engagement. Specifically, the findings revealed that two aspects of art integration significantly influenced participants' engagement with their selected justice topics. These factors included participants’ ability to incorporate their identities— comprising their experiences, values, and beliefs—into their artwork, and their capacity to convey a message or express a perspective through art.