Creative education: from the Closlieu in Paris to the pampa rafaelina

Abstract

The Creative Education program developed by Arno Stern proposed a different perspective on how to conceive artistic education. His methodology, centered on personal exploration through the "game of painting," found a receptive context in various educational spaces in Argentina. In Rafaela (Santa Fe), the arrival of this program was consolidated through the work undertaken by local artist Irene Berzero. From her role at the Liceo Municipal Miguel Flores, she promoted its expansion to neighborhood workshops as well, allowing this approach to reach wider sectors of the community.

This article aims to narrate the historical process of how Arno Stern's pedagogy was introduced and applied in Rafaela. In this context, his approach became a valuable resource for new generations of educators, cultural mediators, and artists, enabling both personal and collective development, and demonstrating the durability and versatility of this educational vision. Through this exploration, the goal is to understand the role of this perspective in shaping a unique cultural community, as well as to highlight the value of public spaces as engines of emancipation, while also addressing realities far removed from major metropolitan centers.