Collaborative school murals as experiential art practice: Enhancing creativity, empathy, and social skill development in Primary Education

Περίληψη

The present study explores how the collaborative making of a mural, within the school environment, can enrich children’s experiences with art and contribute to their educational and cognitive development. It also examines how such collective artistic practices support students’ personal growth as members of a school community and, more broadly, of society. Through the lens of collaborative mural-making, the study emphasizes the experiential and interactive nature of art, which aligns with the engagement of children in collective creative processes such as mural making. Three core pillars of benefit were identified, regarding the contribution of collaborative murals to the development of students’ social skills and empathy. Firstly, the pedagogical dimension, which relates to the enhancement of artistic techniques and the transfer of knowledge. Secondly, the psychological benefits, including cognitive development, the strengthening of emotional self-regulation and self-confidence, and social learning, as participation in collaborative art projects fosters a sense of community. Thirdly, the aesthetic and social sensitization, that emerges both from the mural’s influence on the school environment and from students’ increased awareness of the value of aesthetics.