A pedagogic prescription for positive youth development : youth-led textile arts-based participatory action research​

Abstract

This study is the first of its kind to explore how positive youth development can be promoted through youth-led, textile arts–based participatory action research (PAR), specifically examining how the pedagogies of textile arts and fashion design empower diverse youth groups. Using an instrumental case study and mixed-methods approach, the research engaged secondary schools and youth communities in iterative, socially engaged workshops that extended beyond standard youth development programmes. The project was supported by a joint funding scheme (HK$3.5M) co-organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) of the Hong Kong SAR (2023–2024), with additional sponsorship from The Coca-Cola Foundation (2022–2023) for arts-based programmes in schools. Participants acted as co-designers, directly shaping the research process and bridging gaps in arts-based PAR. Drawing on McNiff and Whitehead’s (2012) theory of arts-based PAR, the study demonstrated the benefits of youth-led creative practice for personal empowerment, executive skills, and self-awareness. A novel model of positive youth development, co-designed with a focus on social concerns, was proposed and informed by interdisciplinary perspectives from educational psychology and art therapy. This pioneering approach challenges educators to adopt arts-based PAR practices that address the evolving needs of youth globally. The critical pedagogical model developed in this study was recognised by the Curriculum Development Council Committee, which recommended its broader adoption in education systems. Research findings have been disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, including New Design Ideas (2024) and Innovation in Education and Teaching International (2023), as well as presentations at the Curriculum Development Institute (Visual Arts) of EDB, HKSAR (2022), and a media interview with HK01 (2022).