Like every pedagogical field, the fields of aesthetics, arts and cultural education have been confronted with various transformational dynamics in recent decades. Transformation processes such as globalization, digitization or transculturalization not only characterize a change in social and cultural framework conditions, but also lead to changes in self-understanding, working methods, contents, and objectives in the research of these educational fields. The anthology "Spectra of Transformation" gathers a variety of perspectives on the question of the research on aesthetics, artistic and cultural education, which were discussed by international participants and speakers at the Winter School 2017 in Nuremberg.

The Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education was unanimously endorsed by all UNESCO Member States in 2011. It is the only existent policy paper of global relevance on arts education. It provided the frame of reference for an international inquiry into arts education experts’ perceptions of key issues in the field: access and participation, quality, and the benefits of arts education. Nearly 400 experts from 61 countries around the world participated in this research. The book presents findings, commentaries, and reflections contributed by 51 international scholars and expert practitioners.