Implementing Community Arts Programs – A Case Study of Effective Processes and Inherent Challenges

It is widely recognised that participation in artistic and creative activities can contribute to individual and community well-being and empowerment. However, the methods and processes that translate these activities into beneficial effects are less understood. This seminar will aim to demonstrate through exploration of a case study that community arts activities can contribute to well-being and support individuals in a variety of ways. I will demonstrate the extent to which community arts programs can have a positive and sustained effect on participants, examine methods for implementing and evaluating such programs, and will be discussing the inherent challenges of employing these methods. In this case study, I will examine the processes of facilitating successful and challenging community arts initiatives and will explore these dynamics through analysis of qualitative data. For this specific scheme that we developed for those in a deprived part of Warwickshire who were living with on-going health difficulties. Interviews were conducted with participants, artists, link coordinators and health care providers and themes were extracted from the various stakeholders’ perceptions. Other qualitative data analysed were diary entries that were kept by the artists and link coordinators who facilitated each session. Main themes from the initial piloting of this programme were those relating to (1) the positive impact on well-being; (2) appropriate labelling of the programme; (3) perceptions of support from service providers; (4) the dynamics of being inclusive and participative; (5) difficulties with the evaluation process; and (6) making the transition from the pilot programme to a regular programme of drop-in sessions. Further interviewing with stakeholders at different stages of the integrated drop-in sessions led to the extraction of the following themes: (1) ‘Life-lines’, (2) Community building, (3) Improvements, (4) Skills-building, and (5) ‘Stepping stones’. It is hoped that these analyses will offer insights into the dynamics of successful running of community arts initiatives. Audience members will be encouraged to consider and discuss the implementation methods and processes involved in provision of community arts programmes and their potential application with other marginalised community groups. Audience members will also be invited to share their own experiences of working within arts and health settings; through this session, it is hoped that we can all glean some transferable practices and lessons from the successes and challenges of implementing and evaluating such programmes.