The project Transcultural Perspectives in Art and Art Education (TPAAE) aims to investigate contemporary art in Europe and East Africa, and forms of art education on both continents, in transcultural perspective.
Innovative in our approach will be setting up the theoretical and practical dialogue, recognizing mutual artistic and cultural influences between Europe and East Africa since the times of the Great Avant-garde movement through contemporary globalization; at the same time valuing cultural heritage and opening it to modern transformations for the sake of community and social development.
The profound research in transcultural perspectives on art and art education will be realized within the TPAAE project by the Consortium containing academic and non-academic institutions from Poland, Italy, and Kenya. International and intersectoral mobility guarantees a high level and effective sharing of knowledge.
All the institutions investigate art, culture, and cultural heritage, and have various complementary competences, allowing for research and implementation of the effects into practice.
Transcultural perspective is the response to the three main strategies for the reduction of otherness developed due to globalization: egocentrism, logocentrism, and ethnocentrism, and is essential, today more than ever, to persuade individuals to appreciate cultural diversity and to recognize the importance of defending and promoting tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
The TPAAE project will develop according to three lines, each having its specific goals:
1) theoretical – researching relations between East African and European art,
2) academic – elaborating and implementing the programme in Fine Arts and Design at PUC, in dialogue with European institutions, and
3) practical – supporting the developing art scene of the region in Kenya.