Arts Impact on Outcomes
Posted by adrianb1 on August 3, 2007
The day after my encounter with the Suffolk taxi driver (previous blog), I heard more inspirational presentations on local government performance and innovation at the Policy Network annual conference. I won’t try and summarise all the excellent plenary sessions and workshops, but will just highlight one, led, like a number of others by a Beacon.
The description in this link, of reaching hard to reach groups through Arts Development in Telford and Wrekin cannot convey how their attitudes and relationships were having such a deep and widespread impact. The components are familiar (in theory at least) – having a clear and simple vision, genuinely consulting and involving all interested parties, ensuring a fit with corporate priorities – but they were actually carried through in interesting and original ways. It meant talking openly with young people, and going with their suggestions, despite misgivings (up to a point!). It meant talking to other service areas (‘in their language’) about new arts development projects and then getting them involved, and helping meet their LPSA targets. And it meant having imagination, resourcefulness and determination.
One example was parents evenings at a school which few parents usually attended (not an obvious link with Arts Development). After a lot of thought and research, they designed a rain forest themed restaurant for the evening, with the children designing the place mats, decorations etc. For the first time, there was no problem with parents’ attendance. The young people were given a lot of control, and sometimes made decisions the adults didn’t like (like not serving brothers and sisters) which could be a hassle, but it’s part of the agreement. So a successful arts project, but also impacting on much bigger social and LAA objectives.
The success is measurable in terms of the impacts and all the awards won. What I wondered though is how easy it is to translate it to other environments. Obviously you can’t just follow a formula, but is it all down to entrepreneurial individuals or could more ordinary mortals be coached, trained, mentored or supported to produce similar results?
