The Conference as a Response to a Global Context
The 1st International Conference on Arts-Based Educational Research: Art and Democracy was born in this context of urgency and opportunity, with the aim of consolidating ABER as a benchmark methodological field in the educational and social spheres. In particular, this conference aims to encourage its development in the Spanish context, where, despite advances in critical pedagogies and transformative artistic practices, there is still limited integration of arts-based research as a widely recognized and applied methodology.

Main Objective
The main objective is to explore how arts-based educational research can generate and evaluate new forms of social engagement and community activism on European democracy, addressing complex issues such as inequality, human rights, and sustainability from critical and inclusive perspectives. Presenting the latest contributions from the scientific community through examples of successful initiatives where the integration of art into educational projects has generated significant changes in improving school coexistence, empowering marginalized communities, raising awareness of social problems, and breaking down prejudices toward vulnerable groups. Idiosyncratic initiatives and projects using this ABER methodology are expected to be presented, as well as the evaluation of participatory methodologies and collaborative projects capable of promoting democratic values.

Specific Objectives
The specific objectives of this conference are:

- To provide a new impetus to raising awareness and educating EU citizens of different ages and regions, respecting the civic commitment to the democratic rights of diverse communities. - Give visibility to research and innovation processes conceived as communication vehicles that provide local communities with the opportunity and the means to join research projects as collaborators, participate in public-private and civic partnerships as partners, conduct research as researchers, and participate in technological, non-technological, and social innovations.
- Create a meeting space for addressing the future challenges facing science and research, to defend ethical conduct in research, responsibility to society, and transparency, especially in the public sector.
- Disseminate results and impact the daily lives of communities by highlighting democratic values ​​in the European context.