MESOC Serapeum | Where culture meets AI

Id		138
Author		Jermyn, H.,
Title		The art of inclusion
Reference		Jermyn, H. (2004).The art of inclusion. London: Arts Council England.
Link to article		http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160204123854/http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/browse-advice-and-guidance/the-art-of-inclusion
Abstract		The former Arts Council of England and Regional Arts Boards commissioned research to explore social inclusion work in the arts. The overall objectives of the research were to: • gather evidence that could be used to inform policy and advocacy initiatives • develop and test appropriate methodologies for evaluating arts initiatives with aims related to social inclusion • evaluate three different models of initiating and delivering projects • identify the characteristics of successful initiatives and approaches that did not work and the reasons for this • develop measures of success that could be used to evaluate a broad range of initiatives The research comprised two independent, but related, strands of work: • a self-evaluation strand, conducted by arts consultant Gerri Moriarty, involved working with arts organisations to help them evaluate their own practice and producing an evaluation guide for arts organisations undertaking work in the area of social exclusion. The resulting report, Sharing Practice, was published in 2002 • an external evaluation strand, conducted by independent researcher Helen Jermyn, explored practice and outcomes. This report presents the key findings from this second research strand

Results:

Candidate transition variables
Even on bad days it makes me feel better. .
It gives you a sense of well being that youre doing something useful. .
What has helped me, it has helped me build self-esteem and confidence. .
Participant Ive developed confidence in myself and my abilities. .
it makes me feel good about myself, it makes me feel proud. .
What has helped me, it helped me build self-esteem and confidence. .
It was a very enjoyable experience. .
The quality in all those kinds of things were aiming for like self-esteem and respect and all that type of stuff. .
And actually a lot of those things like self-esteem come out of feeling that youve done something thats good, and strong and works... .
you have to feel proud of them havent you? .
Part of the recovery process involves building up self-esteem. .
a lot of those things like self-esteem come out of feeling that youve done something thats good, and strong and works. .
The self-esteem and stuff is important too, thats part of the recovery. .
Projects that offer cultural opportunities Participatory arts Most of the projects in the research involved creating opportunities for people to participate in arts activities - some of these projects had social and personal objectives such as to increase confidence and self-esteem. .
This was a useful exercise - the participants made a number of suggestions which came to be built into future courses. .
The opportunities offered were not merely offering access to a cultural experience that was already there but involved participants actively engaging in and creating art. .
Attendance at cultural venues A few of the projects in the research had hoped to develop new audiences for the arts by enabling groups to attend venues. .
As a result of the course, participants found they read in a different way and were happy to read a wider range and different types of books. .
in individuals, which encouraged both personal development and wider involvement in their local community. .
For example, the drama projects and Connections, which used literature as a tool for exploring human behaviour, encouraged participants to see things from others point of view. .
Further, such benefits were often brought about by the opportunities that engagement in art afforded for selfexpression, enhanced sense of value and attainment, and pride in achievement. .
However, it is worth remembering that some participants described in interviews how they had previously had very low levels of selfesteem and how the arts had made a significant contribution to raising their esteem levels. .
Some of the claimed benefits derived from the arts, such as self-esteem, are primarily personal or individual benefits, while others, such as developing community identity, occur at a community level. .
It has been suggested that those participating in arts programmes may accrue some benefits (such as self-esteem or creative skills) directly as a result of their participation (ie arts + participation = outcome). .
For example, people may learn new skills and feel more confident as the result of participating in community arts activity, and this, in turn, may increase their employability. .
Participant Regularly attending workshops in some instances was felt by some artists to be an indicator of self-development and confidence in social settings. .
The experience provided her with an opportunity to work in a new setting and with practitioners from a different artform. .
There may be value in the Arts Council exploring successful, longterm partnerships in depth and disseminating the lessons learned. .
In exhibitions, people derived pride from seeing their work professionally presented in a public exhibition. .
Its actually giving them a format into which to have that freedom, a place of safety really... .
In the HDA case studies, improvements in well being were commonly reported by projects to include enhanced motivation, greater connectedness to others, having a more positive outlook on life and a reduced sense of fear, isolation or anxiety. .
For artists Several projects attempted to address the shortage of artists with the skills and experience needed to work in social inclusion contexts by building in an element of training provision. .
In considering sustainability there is the sustainability of participants involvement in the arts as well as the continuation and development of the sector itself. .
Dependence on individuals and small agencies Many projects were initiated by individuals and delivered by freelance artists or small arts organisations - they are the catalysts for ideas and drive the work forward. .
Participants felt projects were a source of fun and enjoyment, that they had broadened their horizons and, in some cases, had improved their quality of life. .
Artist Partnerships often worked best where there were enthusiastic and supportive staff or volunteers working in partner agencies - that person could be a head teacher in a school, a volunteer working in a community centre or the coordinator of a community group. .
There is, of course, an argument for saying there is value in participating in arts activities purely for the experience itself; art for arts sake. .
how can the Arts Council and other funders best support organisations seeking to develop programmes of work and offer participants opportunities to continue engaging with the arts? .
For example, relatively high levels of investment were made to some projects through the New Audiences Programme which had long-term aspirations but, at that initial stage, could the Arts Council have done more to increase the chances of realising those aims? .
Director/facilitator There was a belief among artists that the better the final result, the greater participants sense of achievement. .
There were examples of projects -Fashion and ID and Residence - where participants engaged in participatory arts activities and were later encouraged to attend venues where their work was exhibited. .
Organisations Artworks-mk is an organisation that supports and promotes participation, learning and development through arts and crafts activities, projects, and events in Milton Keynes. .
The theatre also maintains contact with participants, often through the actors who have worked with them who invite participants to see them in productions. .
Projects that engaged people in cultural opportunities were then addressing social exclusion. .
An extensive consultation process took place and venues were encouraged to identify areas of priority which included working with young people in inclusive settings. .
Some noted the increased interest in this area of work had been beneficial because it provided a forum for debate and had opened up financial resources. .
Because of the small sample of projects and participants it is difficult to generalise to a wider population, but participation in the arts had the following effects for some participants: raised levels of self-esteem and confidence - as a result of projects, participants said they felt proud of what they had achieved, felt more confident and many felt better about themselves a greater feeling of self-determination and sense of control - participants felt they had had freedom to develop their ideas and, although fewer participants felt they had had a say over what happened in sessions, they generally felt a strong sense of ownership of the final product pleasure and enjoyment more developed arts and creative skills, appreciation of the arts, positive attitudes to the arts and a taste for more As noted above, projects tended not to have aims that involved tackling the problems associated with social exclusion. .
In the research, artists said quality had relevance to projects, not only in terms of process but also final output, and were able to articulate how this was related to pride in achievement. .
It is perhaps not surprising that when participants completed something they were pleased with and which was valued by others, they felt good about themselves. .
For other participants, participation in projects had given them a bit of a lift. .
Regularly attending a project and completing something was, for some, a source of pride in itself. .
Participant Individuals also derived a great deal of pride from the fact that the things they created, whether it be a piece of theatre, a page for a website, or an item of jewellery, were theirs. .
Participant Having your work shown to others and valued by them also generated feelings of pride. .
One arts organisation in the research had developed a long-term relationship with an evaluator and found this worked very successfully for them. .
Artist I think all I would say is that I got a lot from it and I know other people got a lot from it in terms of their enjoyment, their achievement and their confidence... .
Interviews with participants showed that they felt more confident as a result of projects, that they felt proud of what they and their group had achieved and that they had learned new skills and developed existing skills through the arts process (some of which were transferable to work or educational settings). .
The research explored using indicators which quantified qualitative outcomes such as whether participants felt better about themselves, felt proud of what they had achieved and so on. .
Pride The participants said they were proud of what they and the group had achieved. .
Director, Landed evaluation report Confidence All three participants felt they had become more confident as a result of the project and that it had helped them feel good about themselves. .
The exhibition was regarded as a vital part of the project and both partners were pleased with the quality of the material produced. .
Participant My views havent changed because I love the arts but my understanding and my appreciation of literature have increased. .

ARTICLE - CANDIDATE TRANSITION VARIABLES

Results: