A/r/Tography in the Metaverse: Creative Collaborative Virtual Environments for Art Education

This paper examines the application of a/r/tography—an arts-based research methodology integrating artistic practice, research, and teaching—within metaverse environments, focusing on Creative Collaborative Virtual Environments (CCVE). Through analysis of artistic projects and educational implementations using Second Life and OpenSimulator, this research demonstrates how CCVE platforms foster collaborative art practices, embodied knowledge construction, and innovative pedagogical approaches. The author’s decade-long artistic practice in virtual environments serves as the foundation for these educational initiatives, illustrating the recursive relationship between artistic inquiry and pedagogical innovation. Findings reveal that CCVE’s core affordances—creation, collaboration, and distribution—are essential for enabling effective co-creation while developing crucial digital competencies. This research contributes to understanding how virtual environments extend a/r/tographic methodology beyond physical constraints, creating new possibilities for art education in digital contexts.