MESOC Serapeum | Where culture meets AI

Id		157
Author		Williams, D.,
Title		The social impact of arts programs. How the arts measure up: Australian research into social impact.
Reference		Williams, D. (1997). The social impact of arts programs. How the arts measure up: Australian research into social impact. Working Paper 8. Stroud, UK: Comedia.
Link to article		https://arestlessart.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/1997-deidre-williams-how-the-arts-measure-up.pdf
Abstract		The aim of the project is to develop a methodology to evaluate the social impact of community arts programmes and assess impact in key areas. It argues public funded community based arts projects were powerful catalysts for community development.

Results:

Candidate transition variables
The experience of working together The project did indeed significantly lift the spirit of the community and bond them in a difficult time. .
It describes the capacity for mutual co-operation towards the collective well-being within a community or wider society. .
The greater our exposure to other views of human experience, the better we understand ourselves as individuals, communities and societies: open and diverse cultural expression enables a broad range of views and beliefs to be communicated. .
It argues for recognition of the critical link between community culture and social cohesion, and demonstrates how community-based arts programs are powerful catalysts for developing healthy, viable communities. .
The value of community art lies in its expression of community culture, as part of the culture of wider society. .
The intensity of the creative process built trust and respect within the group around their shared values and life experiences. .
Community culture plays a key role in fostering cultural diversity: it is a fundamental element in the expression of cultural values, and social interaction is a requirement for this expression to occur. .
Pride in the result: a quality result which generates a sense of group pride in the collective artistic achievement. .
Learning for human development helps people to evaluate critically and gain greater personal insights and understanding of the world around them. .
Participants believe that the project was particularly valuable in generating a climate for mutual co-operation between the local government council and the residents. .
The participants believe the experience of coming together to contribute to creating a community facility, brought residents out to meet each other and provided them with something in common to focus on. .
Many community-based arts projects generate high levels of participation in artistic workshops and performance, or as audiences, volunteers and local sponsors, positively affecting participants and the wider community in favour of the arts. .
The collaborative production of art is central to expressing community culture, developing human and social capital, building and re-building communities, and transforming minds, organisations and society. .
A mural as catalyst to community empowerment The mural project became a focal point for discussion about local environmental and recreation issues, and eventually a catalyst for community awareness raising. .
Ecological consciousness is also linked to environmental consciousness which turns peoples attention to the way they occupy space and shelter, consume food and oxygen, shape the natural environment by their activities & production The social: Awareness at this focus point of consciousness turns peoples attention to the way they are located in and affected by existing social relationships and how they create and engage in new ones. .
It argues public funded community based arts projects were powerful catalysts for community development..
This view of culture emphasises the importance of expressing community values, creating a sense of place, gaining new insights and learning new ways of doing things. .
...the sociological conception of culture possesses a number of qualities which are relevant to the process of development and the future. .
In this arena community art becomes a part of the process of community cultural developmenta process concerned with fostering an environment in which cultural democracy can occur. .
This process recognises the importance of community as fundamental to cultural expression, along with the space for social interaction and resources for artistic production. .
It values community artistic expression as an important way in which communities can create a sense of place, affirm their values, assert their differences and communicate their aspirations. .
It reveals that public funded community-based arts projects were powerful catalysts for community development and renewal as well as agents for substantial individual development. .
Community cultural expression is an essential component in the evolution and expression of a national culture. .
Creative expression at community level is one way of articulating the cultural values people want enshrined in public policy, and reflected in economic frameworks. .
Investments in the arts Apart from developing artistic talents and inspiring further work of artistic merit, community-based arts projects also generate support for and appreciation of the traditional or the fine arts . .
A successful project is likely to have a considerable impact in generating support for the arts, locally and further afield. .
A creative arts focus: maintaining a creative arts focus to cultural development projects. .
Audience impact: an artistic product that inspires its target audiences. .
This was essential for keeping the focus on exploring individual artistic expression during the project. .
This was most enhanced when the creative development process supported and fostered the participants artistic expression and showcased their expression in a well structured artistic design. .
Meaningful levels of participation Successful projects provided the opportunity for participants to take up artistic or social challenges that also contributed to achieving the goals set for the project. .
This approach was most likely to tap into and foster emerging artistic talents among the participants, which in turn strengthened the integrity of the artistic outcome. .
This paper has explored how the experience of community is fundamental to cultural expression, along with the space for social interaction and the resources for artistic production. .
We need to acknowledge community art as an important catalyst for cultural development and that this is a valid role of art in society. .
This paper suggests that key outcome areas for the arts in community cultural development are as follows:.
Community cultural expression provides people with the opportunity to communicate individualism, eccentricity, diversity and inspirational example. .
Although creating art through a collaborative process may be the group goal, the meaning this experience has for individuals will differ. .
It provides room for people to participate in artistic communication as well as spectate. .
Participants believed the creative process gave the young people and police an opportunity to relate to each other as people. .
For individuals the learning experience might generate the impetus for significant life change or provide the skills and insights to advance their work or personal life goals. .
Pride in artistic achievement Creating a meaningful and inspiring artistic result was at the heart of every successful project. .
It sees collaborative artistic production as a powerful vehicle for experiential learning and appreciation of other value systems. .
Community-based, collaborative artistic expression is one of the most powerful ways that cultural diversity is expressed and community values communicated. .
The process of reflection is often most effective when done in a co-operative creative group environment, as generated in community-based arts projects. .
It is an essential and powerful way in which people build and rebuild community, release creative energy and transform minds, organisations, institutions and society. .
Professionals in many disciplines believe that greater investment in community-based systems, co-operating with government, would build communities and society. .
These projects are commonly capable of: Raising public awareness of an issue Inspiring action on a social issue Improving understanding of different cultures or lifestyles Generating employment Increasing public safety The processes of creating or strengthening communities, and developing social capital, frequently generate the desire for social change. .
The following indicators are common human capital outcomes from community arts projects: Improved communication skills Increased ability in planning and organising Increased problem solving skills Improved ability to collect, organise and analyse information Developed creative talents Before examining human capital outcomes from community arts projects in more detail, it is important to explore the concept of learning for human development. .
Because advocates of community cultural development are frequently employed or funded by government, they are focusing on the economic benefits to generate recognition and support for this work. .
These include: arts-related employment or new enterprise developments; multiplier effects from local festivals or arts events; and retail growth as a result of arts-focused urban redevelopment strategies. .
Community-based arts strategies succeed in generating sustainable economic outcomes when they are supported within a broader cultural development focus incorporating related social and cultural objectives. .
The arts industrynote the wordfeels compelled to justify its funding by pointing to its capacity to employ people, its export potential, and even its capacity as a marketing tool to promote a national identity. .
Overwhelmingly, respondents said they would recommend projects like these to other communities, and believed that funding community-based arts projects was a valuable investment of the public arts dollar. .
In short, Creating Social Capital found that successful community-based arts projects were effective at generating new arts markets, attracting non-arts funding and sponsorship to employ artists to work with communities, and attracting significant levels of business investment in the form of donated goods and services. .
However it is put to use, in these times of rapid social, economic and industrial change, the human capital generated by participating in these arts projects is a rich resource. .
Consequently the indicators of community cultural development receiving most attention from cultural development workers and government alike, are familiar economic measures, more specifically those linked to cultural tourism strategies. .
There is much evidence to suggest that productivity and wealth are increased as a result of greater attention being paid to how to improve the way people work together, build relationships and create their futures together. .
Community arts projects are highly effective in communicating ideas and information and increasing awareness and understanding of different cultures and lifestyles, two of the indicators already discussed in this paper. .
It is the arena for living and expressing culture. .
Collaborative artistic practice at community level is a potent forum for communication of ideas and values. .
Community cultural development is one element in a convergence of disciplines that are progressively forming stronger connectionsart, eco-environment, education, human rights and spiritualityall operating from the central point of cultural values. .
To have experienced it as part of a celebratory and legend-creating event was a wonderful experience with long lasting value. .
The greatest positive impact occurred when the artistic abilities in the group were stretched to achieve the shared artistic vision, and this vision was creatively communicated to audiences. .
community is where one learns and continues to practice how to be social..
As a result of these experiences, the participants knowledge of the site and the values it embodied for them were reaffirmed. .
The public voice and recognition of their views, was a powerful experience and one which created new social networks and a greater sense of belonging to many different communities. .
As a result, the public approval, successful risk taking and enjoyable team work experiences left feelings of increased self esteem and confidence. .
For those taking part, working collaboratively to complete such an inspiring project, generated a strong sense of self esteem and group pride. .
It also generated confidence in the knowledge that they could achieve something significant by working together. .
Artistic quality was defined by participants as how the finished work affected them and their community, and how the artwork embodied or represented what they set out to achieve together. .
This was underpinned however, by the degree to which the artists applied their skills towards achieving all the project goals. .
Artistic responses What we can do for ourselves depends on what we know of ourselves. .
Community arts projects can also be powerful catalysts for driving social change. .
Too many projects promising economic benefits and delivering disappointing results will see support for community cultural development reducing instead of increasing. .

ARTICLE - CANDIDATE TRANSITION VARIABLES

Results: