The Social Impact of Creative Arts in Australian Communities

This book brings together discussions about Australian arts policy and funding, outcomes of arts engagement in terms of social inclusion, well-being, and education. It presents exemplars of creative programs or case studies that build capacity and lasting impact for communities in urban and regional Australia. This book describes the impact of the arts using narrative case studies. Through this, it develops conceptual understanding and frameworks that can be used to dynamically assess the value and impact of arts engagement across the three types of cultural value: intrinsic value, instrumental value, and institutional value. It focuses on how arts engagement creates, supports, and extends factors such as well-being, social inclusion, and educational achievement. This book provides an innovative examination of the evidence from Australian projects depicting the impact of the arts on a range of indicators and sectors. Acknowledgements Contents About the Authors 1 Introduction: Evaluating Intangibles—Social Value, Impact and Notions of Place 1.1 Introduction References 2 Understanding Social Value and Impact in the Australian Context 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Defining the Notion of Value 2.3 Rethinking Value Beyond Economic Outcomes 2.4 Understanding Impact 2.5 Language and Approaches to Understanding Impact 2.6 The Conundrum of Correlation or Causality 2.7 Conclusion References 3 Building an Embedded Framework: Early Models 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Case Study I: Smithsonian Folklife Festival 3.2.1 Understanding Stakeholders: An Evaluation Project Management Framework 3.2.2 Project Results, Findings and Analysis 3.2.3 Impact: Expect the Least Expected 3.2.4 Embedded Evaluation Framework: Continual Cycle of Improvement 3.3 Case Study II: Animating Spaces 3.3.1 Project Design 3.3.2 Evaluation Methodology 3.3.3 Data Collection 3.3.4 Non-text-Based Digital Visual Data 3.3.5 Analysis, Reflections of the Process and Findings 3.3.6 Authenticity of Reporting 3.3.7 Illuminating Impact 3.3.8 Embedded Evaluation Throughout the Project 3.4 Conclusion References 4 Nothing About Us Without Us: Co-creation with Communities for Impact Assessment 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Community Engagement Versus Consultation 4.3 Meaningful Community Engagement is All About Relationships and is Place-Based 4.4 Co-design: By the People and Process Over Outcome 4.5 Co-creation: Situated Languages to Communicate from Within Remote Communities 4.6 Creative Community Engagement: Tim Fairfax Family Foundation Toolkit 4.6.1 Project Design 4.6.2 Charters Towers 4.6.3 Roma 4.7 Conclusion References 5 Arts-Based Methodologies for Fostering Inclusion and Understanding with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Milpera State High School Community 5.3 Building Inclusive Classrooms Project 5.3.1 Research Design 5.4 Room 17 Goes Large Project 5.5 Conclusion References 6 Co-creating Stories with Communities: Collaborative Art and Meaningful Participation 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Collaborating with Communities 6.3 Co-creating Stories at Creative Regions 6.3.1 Indigenous Stories, Stories of Place 6.3.2 Elephant in the Room 6.4 Considerations and Emergent Strategies 6.4.1 Identify Differing Values and Objectives 6.4.2 Prioritise Long-Term Partnerships Rather Than Short-Term Deliverables 6.4.3 Involve Participants as Collaborators 6.5 Conclusion References 7 Creative Partnerships for Social Impact: Addressing Domestic Violence in Regional Queensland 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Connecting the Arts with Public Health and Community Services: Creative Regions and UCC 7.2.1 Ethical Complexities and the Effect of Authenticity 7.3 The Production 7.4 Evaluation: Creative Regions and CQUniversity 7.5 Conclusion References 8 Kindy Moves: Using Impact Narratives to Position Children as Stakeholders in Evaluation 8.1 Introduction 8.2 About the Project 8.3 Key Concepts Used to Frame the Impact Assessment 8.3.1 Intrinsic and Instrumental Benefits of Arts Engagement 8.3.2 Teaching Artistry 8.3.3 Dance in Australian Early Childhood Learning Contexts 8.3.4 Shaping the Impact Narrative for Participants and Queensland Ballet 8.4 Discussion 8.5 Impact Narratives for the Kindergarten Children 8.6 Impact Narratives for Kindergarten Educators 8.6.1 Child One 8.6.2 Child Two 8.6.3 Child Three 8.7 Impact Narratives for Queensland Ballet Teaching Artists 8.8 Impact Narrative for Queensland Ballet 8.9 Conclusion References 9 Community Consultation Using Digital Engagement in the Time of COVID-19 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Overview of the Role of the Creative Arts in Regional Australia: A Social Impact Model Project 9.3 Designing Online Community Consultation Using Arts-Based Approaches 9.4 Digital Liveness as a Model for Engagement 9.5 Outcomes and Understanding Emerging from Online Community Consultation 9.5.1 Principle One—Generative Engagement 9.5.2 Principle Two—Openness of Provocation 9.5.3 Principle Three—Centring Storytelling Through Place 9.6 Conclusion References 10 Conclusion 10.1 Sharing Perceptions and Understandings Through Listening and Stories References