Sanne Kersten

Sanne Kersten is a researcher and coordinator at the Art Education Research Group of the Amsterdam University of the Arts (AHK), affiliated with the Academy of Theater and Dance. Her work focuses on ArtsSciences education, neurodiversity, and inclusive pedagogy, particularly for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). She leads the Arts Beyond Ableism initiative addressing systemic ableism in arts and education, and coordinates the THIRD research program exploring advanced educational frameworks. Kersten has authored/co-authored influential publications like 'Designing Wicked Arts Education' (2024) and contributed to international conferences across Europe and North America.

Her research emphasizes designing educational models that align with neurodiverse learners' strengths, such as solution-oriented thinking and technical aptitudes. Recent work includes evaluating ArtsSciences programs in special secondary education and developing reciprocal learning methodologies. Kersten's publications span peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, and media interviews discussing topics like dance-based language development and contemporary theater pedagogy.

Key contributions include co-developing the 'ArtsSciences Unlocked' framework (2022), which maps design principles for inclusive arts education. She also collaborates with educational institutions and cultural organizations to implement innovative teaching strategies. Current projects explore unlearning ableism through arts practices and advancing digital art education tools.