A rural and regional research forum for visual arts teachers : A focus on teaching, practice and place

This paper reports on a research forum for secondary visual arts teachers working in rural and regional areas of New South Wales. Teachers attended from a range of schools, and the focus was on understanding, articulating, and researching teaching practice. The program drew on the skills and knowledge of university academics, arts practitioners, and visual arts teachers and involved research presentations, art making, and focus group discussion with the aim of repositioning and developing knowledge in the nexus of these experiences. The outcomes included data about teaching practice in rural and regional areas; the development of professional relationships; and capacity building for research collaboration.