Teaching Artistry Podcast goes live! In this special episode, Courtney J. Boddie records in front of a live audience! Courtney is joined by Australian activist, artist, scholar, educator, and change maker Dr. Rachael Jacobs for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation about teaching artistry, justice, collective action, and the role of artists in shaping a more equitable future. Together they explore: What it means to move from "saving" communities to listening alongside them Decolonizing arts education and community practice Why artists belong in positions of political leadership Coalition building as a strategy for systemic change The relationship between arts, advocacy, and public policy The importance of joy as both a creative practice and a form of resistance How teaching artists can imagine and actively build the world they want to live in Rachael shares stories from her work with refugee communities, her experiences as a South Asian artist in Australia, and even her campaign challenging Australia's Prime Minister in Parliament. Throughout the conversation, Courtney and Rachael invite listeners to think beyond incremental change and consider how artists can become powerful bridge-builders in increasingly polarized times. This live recording also features a welcome from Jean Taylor, an opening performance of the Teaching Artistry Podcast theme song by Jono Waldman, and reflections from the audience. This is Part One of a two-part live conversation. Be sure to listen to Act Two, where audience questions continue the dialogue about justice, creativity, and moving the field forward together. Guest Dr. Rachael Jacobs is an Associate Professor in Creative Arts Education at Western Sydney University and a former secondary teacher (Dance, Drama and Music) and Arts specialist. Her research interests include cultural diversity in the teacher workforce, racial justice through the arts, assessment for creativity and language development through the arts. Her PhD was on creativity assessment, leading to changes in curriculum and assessment in Senior Secondary education in Australia. Rachael has facilitated arts projects in community settings all over Australia, including in refugee communities, in prisons and in women’s refuges. In 2016 she co-wrote an arts education report for the OECD that contributed to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. In 2020 she contributed to UNESCO's Futures of Education Initiative, co-authoring a report on artists' depictions of the future of education. Rachael has written two textbooks for educators on Arts Education. Rachael is a community activist, a freelance writer, aerial arts instructor, dancer and choreographer. She was a founding member of the community activism group, Teachers for Refugees and runs her own intercultural dance company in Sydney. Rachael is a climate activist and is on the board of advocacy group, Sweltering Cities. She is also on the board of youth theatre company, PYT Fairfield. She is active as an anti-racism and human rights campaigner, and runs anti-racism programs through the arts in NSW schools. Rachael additionally facilitates DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) education programs, specialising in designing bespoke programs for the arts and community sectors. Special Thanks Special thanks to our live audience, creative producer Jonathan Zautner, and Jono Waldman for writing and performing the Teaching Artistry Podcast theme song live. Key Themes: Teaching Artistry, Arts Education, Community Arts, Social Justice, Decolonization, Collective Action, Arts Advocacy, Refugee Advocacy, Creativity & Democracy, Joy as Resistance, Cultural Leadership, Equity, Live Podcast
