Congratulations Glen Coutts

We congratulate Glen Coutts who has to been re-elected as President of the International Society for Education through Art (InSEA)! Professor Coutts has had a long-term relationship with the University of Lapland stretching almost 20 years and has since 2013 been working as a part-time professor in the department of art education in the Faculty of Art and Design. Gefore that he was Reader in Art and Design Education at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow having previously served as a teacher of art and design in high schools throughout Scotland and community contexts. He is an artist-educator with wide interests including community-based and place-based education with an extensive portfolio of publications. He was Principal Editor of the International Journal of Education through Art for six years and is co-editor of the Relate North series of books with Professor Timo Jokela. He is also leader of the applied visual arts SIG in the Arctic Sustainable Arts and Design thematic network of the University of the Arctic.

The International Society for Education through Art is the largest worldwide organisation for education through visual arts. The Society has members in more than 80 countries and advises national and international bodies on policy in art education. A non-governmental organisation partner of UNESCO it is a powerful voice for education through art in its many forms. Established in 1954, in the wake of the Second World War the organisation strives to promote equality, peace and education through art based on the principles outlined by Sir Herbert Read in his seminal book Education Through Art. Next year the society will be 70 years old and there will be many events to mark that milestone including publications exhibitions and congresses and professor Coutts will be at the forefront of leading those celebrations. The University of Lapland will therefore continue to have a high-profile in the organisation.

Professor Coutts is the 20^th president of InSEA following in the illustrious footsteps of such luminaries as Edwin Ziegfeld and Elliot Eisner. The President of the society is elected by the entire membership; elections are held every two years and a President my serve a maximum of three two-year terms. This will be Professor Coutts’ third and final team. As President he has responsibility for leading an international team of world counsellors editors, designers and many volunteers across all of the countries and continents in which the society operates. It is a mark of esteem and a great honour that one of our professors is serving in this high profile role.