Dr. Kim Cosier, a champion for social and racial justice in art education, discusses art’s impact on educational reform with hosts Amy Kraehe and Gia Del Pino on the Race/Remix podcast.
“Art becomes a powerful tool when it challenges comfort,” Cosier notes, emphasizing resilience and the role of “art workers” in educational justice.
Cosier, a professor of art education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Peck School of the Arts and co-founder of the Milwaukee Visionaries Project, has dedicated her career to merging art and social activism. Her work with the Art Build Workers network highlights her commitment to engaging artists in social movements. This national network encourages artists to collaborate with teachers, unions, and community organizations to advocate for educational equity and racial justice through non-violent, impactful creative expression.
LISTEN TO EPISODE 8: Artists for Educational Justice | Kim Cosier
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In the episode, Cosier shares practical strategies for artists and educators, illustrating how art can be a transformative tool for justice. Through personal stories, she explains the concept of “art workers”—artists using their skills to promote systemic change—and underscores the importance of resilience and joy in navigating the challenges of social activism. By embracing failure and discomfort, she argues, artists can foster the empathy and creativity essential for driving long-term impact in the educational sphere.
Cosier’s work with the Milwaukee Visionaries Project, a media literacy initiative for urban youth, is another facet of her commitment to empowering the next generation to use art as a platform for social justice. Through this program, Cosier provides young people with the tools to express their perspectives on critical social issues creatively, encouraging them to become active participants in conversations around equity and justice.
This episode of Race/Remix encourages listeners to consider how art can inspire social movements and create meaningful community impact. By exploring these themes with Cosier, Kraehe and Del Pino build an engaging and thought-provoking discussion on the intersections of art, activism, and education.
