John Johnston

John Johnston graduated with a PhD from the University of Sunderland, presenting a portfolio and thesis that highlighted the intrinsic connectivity between artistic thinking and conflict transformation. He presents a hybrid identity of artistic activist - educator and openly promotes an issues-based arts pedagogy as a vehicle for social change.

He asserts that the world is in the grip of an apathetic education system promoting a culture of inertia. This leads to the de-politicisation of society and a loss of agency. John states that an issues-based arts education counteracts the effect of political and cultural inertia and leads to the development of the caring critical society we need to change the world.