An Overview of Bruno Munari’s Art Education in Italy

—A Survey and Study of Research of Bruno Munari’s Art Education Method—

Abstract

This project examines the activities and previous studies of Bruno Munari’s art education for children and evaluates how his educational philosophy and methods were formed with reference to previous studies. I, therefore, studied Munari’s books, surveyed related literature, interviewed related people to obtain an overview of his art education, investigated the “Bruno Munari Method^®” developed by his successors Alberto Munari and ABM (Associazione Bruno Munari), and discussed how Munari’s education is understood in Italy in addition to the relationship between his workshop education and early childhood education. The relationship between Munari and Japan is deep since 1960s and Munari is highly regarded as an artist and designer, although his art education methods are not well known in Japan. However, recently there is a growing interest in Reggio Emilia’s early childhood education approach in Japan, wherein influence of Munari’s art education can be noted in Italy. And it is expected that an understanding of Munari’s art educational methods and philosophy will provide suggestions for the development of creative educational methods in early childhood art education in Japan.