Impact Study of Place, Space & Identity

Year 2

Place, Space & Identity 2

• 2nd year of a programme of temporary arts interventions

• Range of designated artforms

• January 2009 – June 2009

• Opportunities for artists and the general public to respond to the social, economic and environmental changes currently taking place in North Staffordshire

A unique collaboration led by:

co-funded by:

delivered in partnership with:

Arts & RegenerationArts used in a regeneration context since the 1930s

Emphasis on renewal has shifted recently from capital projects to local people

Many practical ways in which arts and cultural initiatives can support regeneration programmes

Arts and cultural activities provide structure for public involvement: a sense of belonging and commitment to working together

“Cultural assets and opportunities have a

greater part to play in the business of creating new

places and achieving sustainable communities”

Living Places Programme

www.living-places.org.uk

Arts & RegenerationArts programmes have been shown

to contribute to:

Enhancing social cohesion and local image

Developing self confidence

Supporting independence

Exploring visions of the future

Building private/public sector partnerships

Promoting interest in the local environment

Reducing offending behaviour

Enhancing organisational capacity

Demonstrate the value and

evaluate the impact of year 2 of

the PSI Programme

Objective of the Research

Research TeamCreative Communities Unit (CCU) of Staffordshire University managed the project

Lead officer Mark Webster: Senior Lecturer in Community Regeneration

CCU forged an innovative partnership with creativityteam

creativityteam works with public sector clients on creative projects, evaluation and training

Lead Researcher: Karen Bell Assistant Researchers: Claire Carter and Jackie Rose

Research Team has extensive knowledge of the cultural and community sectors, with more than 35 years experience of the public sector

Research Pocess: January - June 2009

Interim Findings submitted: August 2009

Draft Report submitted: September 2009

Final Report: January 2010

Research Timescale

Artists’ CommissionsHow Many? Six artists commissioned to produce five projects in October 2008

How Much?Between £10,000 and £20,000 each (£60,000 in total)

Criteria?All the temporary art works to be distributed, performed or placed in well-used spaces in the public realm.

Anything Else?Artists asked to work alongside ‘Early Career Artists’ who felt they would benefit from a shadowing opportunity

Artists’ Commissions

Who?

Clare Reynolds, Sarah Nadin and Paul Rogerson, working with Charis Jones on ‘Benches’

Chris Twigg working with Eleanor Babb on ‘Feel the Feeling’

Rachel Grant working with Lizzie Norton on ‘The Living Room’

Claire Barber working with Behjat Omer on ‘You are the Journey’

Louise Wood working with Kate Lynch on ‘2,400 yards and 73 houses’

Map of PSI2 Activity

The fully interactive version can be viewed at:http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=107328632172984406111.000471674b5170edcd71c

Findings

Aim: Measure the impact of PSI2 on key

decision makers, stakeholders, artists and participants

By: Exploring participant engagement, artistic product & producers and investment and

partnerships

Questionnaire Responses: Demographics

• 79% from Staffordshire / North Staffordshire areas (including 59% from Stoke-on-Trent)

• 88% classed themselves as ‘white’

• 12% classed themselves as having a disability or long-term illness

Questionnaire Responses: New Audiences

• 65% of respondents gave a very positive response to the art work (8 or above on a sliding scale of 1-10)

• Half of passers-by never usually went to see exhibitions or performances

• 16% said they never usually participate in any arts activity

• PSI2 was seen as a recognisable ‘brand’ - an example of good practice for site specific art in the public realm

Impact on Participants

•Consideration through stories •Challenging views

•Exciting, alternative community consultation techniques

•Reflections on community identity issues

Impact on ParticipantsEncouraged Civic Pride • Magnitude and distinctiveness of

the programme within the local area

• Met both regeneration and cultural strategies of local authorities

Community Involvement • Audiences appreciated the

participatory aspect

Emotional Involvement • Preconceptions were challenged

for participants, audiences and artists

60% of questionnaire respondents and 71% of website survey respondents said the art works had made them think about things that were happening in their

area

Impact on Artists

Impact on Early Career Artists

Opportunity to reflect on their own practice

Insight into the commissioning process - a safe and supportive environment

Insight into the challenges of participatory working

Realised the importance of being flexible and responding to changes

Much more confident about their ability to take on work

Impact on Stakeholders

• ECA scheme a way to retain skills and link local artists to Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural offer

• Useful to have a new pool of artists to tap into

• ECA scheme will attract more young artists in the future

Findings

Aim: Examine the extent to which PSI2 and the arts in general have contributed to the effectiveness and sustainability of

the regeneration process in North Staffordshire

By: Exploring investment and partnerships

Sustainability

Findings

Aim: Examine the contribution the arts can

make to promoting and achieving successful community regeneration

By: Exploring participant engagement and artistic

product & producers

Audience & Participant Figures

• 361,625 visitors - ‘You Are the Journey’

• 40,181 visitors - ‘Feel the Feeling’

• 1,606 visitors - ‘Benches’, ‘The Living Room’ and ‘2,400 yards and 73 houses’

• 606 people took an active role in the commissions

• 27 workshop / training sessions provided

Text & Postcard CampaignWhat do you think is the main benefit of using the arts in local communities?

Using the arts to express views and opinions: 33%

Building stronger community spirit: 17%

Exploring issues in the local area: 16%

Encouraging more people to take part in the arts: 14%

Improving the look of the local area: 10%

Developing new skills and learning opportunities: 10%

Findings

Aim: Enable the PSI Steering Group to

demonstrate clearly the value and impact of the work

By: Exploring participant engagement and

extended profile

Benefits for Participants

Website Visitors1,402 visits Between 22 February and 15 June 2009

Average of 3.38 pages viewed per visit

Average time on site 2 ½ minutes per person

Visits peaked during March 2009

Most visitors to website came from UK (80%); 9% from the USA and Canada; 3% from Europe; 1% from Australia and 0.5% from India

45% of visits generated from search engines(Google 42% of these)

Recommendations

Participant Engagement

• Support partnership arts projects which engage local communities

High profile publicity & advocacy to reach new audiences

Need for a comprehensive overview

Enhanced programme to enable growth

Support for artists working within communities

Quality documentation to highlight regeneration issues

Artistic Product & Producers

• Ongoing support for local artists / fostering high level of interest in arts and regeneration

Training / CPD opportunities for lead artists

Need for more structure and direct support for ECA mentoring scheme Support a fresh approach by

encouraging a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds

Extended Profile

• Significantly raise the profile of the PSI Programme

Impact Research needs to be accessible for communities and strong evidence base for arts and regeneration

Stronger links to be made with local media and relevant community-led forums

Series of public dialogues with community partners would engage communities and maintain interest

Marketing should be effectively planned, co-ordinated and resourced

Website needs clear purpose and communication

Investment & Partnerships

• Key stakeholders maintain strong dialogue and ongoing partnership

More collective, organic approach to funding & development needed

PSI will become more sustainable if RENEW embeds the arts

Widen steering group and involve all partners in management and evaluation

Clarity & leadership required from a Community Development Worker

A full version of this report is available from b arts: info@pandaemonium.biz