Art education and emotional health: the ukiyo project as a comprehensive proposal for well-being in the MEDART master's program

Abstract

The Ukiyo Project is a collaborative initiative between the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Guanajuato (Mexico), aimed at promoting emotional well-being and mental health in the university environment through art. This initiative has been implemented within the courses “Didactic Foundations of Art Education” and “Artis, Creativity and Education” in the Fine Arts undergraduate program and “Planning, Design of Activities and Didactic Resources in Art Education,” part of the Master’s Degree in Art Education in Social and Cultural Institutions at UCM. Adopting both pedagogical and therapeutic perspectives, the project uses methodologies grounded in aesthetic experience and artistic creation to foster a participatory and meaningful teaching-learning process. Inspired by the Japanese concept Ukiyo , which refers to “living in the present moment,” the project addresses the post-pandemic context where students’ mental health has been significantly impacted. It builds upon previous experiences such as Curarte (R&D, 2006–2024), A.R.S. (Art Health Alzheimer, 2010–2017), and the INNOVA-DOCENTIA 2023_24 Nº 424 program. The research follows a qualitative and exploratory approach, employing methods such as participant observation, field diaries, photographic documentation, and ad hoc questionnaires to assess the impact of the artistic-educational materials and dynamics. Preliminary results suggest improvements in classroom climate and increased student interaction and communication, indicating a positive effect on their emotional well-being.