Community-Based Visual Arts Education: Building Student Engagement with the Community

Abstract

This study aims to understand how art education students at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta engage with the community through the Student Organisation Capacity Strengthening Program (PPKO) in Beji Village, Gunungkidul. Using a qualitative approach and case study method, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with four student participants. The findings reveal that students successfully adapted their art education strategies to the community’s social and cultural structure through informal communication, the use of contextual media, and intergenerational participation in creative processes. In addition to enhancing their technical and pedagogical skills, the experience broadened students’ cultural awareness and transformed their roles into art facilitators. This process bridges academic knowledge with social realities while promoting local cultural identity through collaborative art practices. The study recommends strengthening community-based curricula and providing continuous mentorship to ensure the long-term social impact of community-based visual arts education.