Abstract:
More educators are recognizing the importance of multicultural art education, but due to
a gap in pedagogy, students often aren’t provided the guidance and instruction necessary to take
away lifelong skills in cultural appreciation, interpersonal communication, critical thinking and
thoughtful expression. Providing students with these skills should be at the forefront of initiatives
in secondary art education. While quality multicultural art education can result in interpersonal
conflict between students in response to issues surrounding cultural identity, the environment of
an arts classroom is the perfect space to confront and deconstruct such issues as they arise
through the incorporation of conflict resolution strategies (CRS). These strategies, in tandem
with quality multicultural art instruction, cultivate a strong classroom community and provide
students lifelong skills.