Arts & SEL in South Asia

There’s a lot of Western literature on social and emotional learning (SEL), school-based interventions, and the wide range of benefits for students, from school functioning to peer relationships to school climate and safety (Cipriano et al., 2023; Durlak et al., 20211). Studies have explored how arts and play-based activities such as music (Creech, Hodges & Hallam, 2021), collaborative filmmaking (Zhang et al., 2025), visual arts (Peleka, Stamovlasis & Metallidou, 2025; See & Kokotsaki, 2015) are associated with social, cognitive, emotional and academic outcomes. 

While South Asian communities (Bhatt, 2019) and programs have long harnessed arts and play-based activities towards bolstering child outcomes, little evidence documents the impacts of school-based programs within this context. 

So…what do arts- and SEL programs in South Asia look like? How is it influencing child outcomes? At Shakthi Studio, we’re committed to learning. Through a new series, we’ll be learning from Saturday Art Class in India and Tilli in Sri Lanka, hearing what their work with children reveals about the role of arts, play and SEL in everyday learning.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll dive in, stay tuned :)

For centuries, arts and play have been woven into children’s lives across South Asia. Yet, we know so little about how it shapes their development 🎨 SHAKTHI: சக்தி (Tamil for Strength) is a space where arts, research and community meet. We’re learning, creating and building alongside those who use art and play to support children thriving. In our first project, we hear from @saturdayartclass and @tilliforkids what their work reveals about the role of arts, play and SEL in everyday learning. Stay tuned! #Research #ArtsBasedLearning #SEL #India #srilanka