Canan Tercan

Canan Tercan serves as Deputy Lecturer in Didactics of Fine Arts at the Düsseldorf Art Academy since 2023. She is concurrently a freelance author and co-editor of the art education journal "Kunst 5-10" (since 2018) and a member of the extended state board of the Art Association BDK NRW (since 2022).

Her educational background includes:

• Master of Art in Art and German Studies from the University of Wuppertal (2014)
• Studies at Universitat de Barcelona (2011)
• Part-time postgraduate studies in language teaching in migration society (2018)
• Preparatory service and qualification courses in music and theatre (2014-2015)

Dr. Tercan's research centers on aesthetic-political education, critically examining the interfaces between art and politics. Her doctoral project investigates how artistic practice in education can address contemporary challenges, with a focus on historical continuities from the Nazi era to present-day right-wing movements. She explores the role of art in democratic resilience and the renegotiation of art's autonomy in politicized contexts, particularly through case studies of artistic positions operating at political margins.

Her publications in "Kunst 5-10" demonstrate a consistent engagement with sensory and material exploration (e.g., light, touch, color) and socio-political themes. Recent works (2025) tackle climate politics through interactive art, while earlier contributions examine tactile perception and everyday aesthetics, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach bridging art practice, education, and critical theory. The recurring emphasis on experiential learning—such as recycled wax tracing or snowscape color analysis—reveals her commitment to embodied pedagogical methods.

Scientific awards:

• No major scientific awards were listed in the provided materials, though she received a study scholarship from the Hans Böckler Foundation during her studies (2007-2014).

In her advisory role, Tercan prepares art education students for practical teaching semesters at the Düsseldorf Art Academy through seminars on aesthetic research and political-cultural orientation. She has collaborated with faculty including Dr. Anna Kreysing and Prof. Dr. Sara Hornäk on seminar development, focusing on bridging theoretical frameworks with classroom application. Her prior decade of teaching experience at Vogelsang Gymnasium (2016-2023) directly informs her emphasis on Montessori-based and inclusive pedagogical approaches within institutional constraints.

She operates within the Didactics of Fine Arts department at the Düsseldorf Art Academy, contributing to initiatives that connect artistic research with educational practice. Her current seminar "Critical Images and Art Education" (Summer 2025) exemplifies her commitment to addressing global challenges through art pedagogy, explicitly framing classrooms as spaces for democratic meaning-making amid rising political polarization.