I slamic and Other Influences on Art and Design Education in the Middle E ast and N orth A frica

Abstract

Art and design education in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa began to have its influence around the end of the nineteenth century. As a result of Islamic and other influences on art and design education, modernism began to predominate, and sometimes replace, the traditional arts in this region. This had a direct impact on making and teaching art and design, which in the countries with an Eastern culture adopted a Western form as a role model. This chapter aims to provide some indications about the history and philosophy of art and design education in the Middle East and North Africa with references to current changes and developments in the region. It focuses on Islamic cultural and other influences that relate to art itself and art education in particularly. Both Western and Eastern influences on the Middle East and North Africa are discussed and analyzed to provide context for the history and philosophy of art and design education in this vast region.