ArtWorks Alliance Gathering – July 2024: Advocating for Participatory Arts

On Thursday, 4th July 2024, ArtWorks Alliance held a gathering of its members to articulate and craft key messages for the new team of ministers in the UK government. This meeting focused on the importance of participatory arts, discussing their definition, impact, and the challenges faced by practitioners in this field.

Defining Participatory Arts

Participants began by sharing their perspectives on what participatory arts mean to them. Common themes included community collaboration, co-creation, empowerment, social change, inclusivity, and the importance of the creative process over the final product. These discussions highlighted the multifaceted nature of participatory arts, emphasising their role in fostering personal and community development.

Impact on Individuals and Communities

The conversation moved to the transformative impact of participatory arts. Participants noted how these activities empower individuals by giving them a platform to express their stories and experiences, particularly those from marginalised communities. Participatory arts also play a crucial role in community building and social cohesion, personal development, mental and emotional well-being, and providing educational benefits. Additionally, they serve as powerful tools for social change and cultural enrichment.

Motivations Behind Participatory Arts

When asked why they engage in participatory arts, participants expressed a deep commitment to social and personal values. They are driven by a passion for social change, the desire to empower communities, facilitate personal growth, build social connections, promote well-being, and advocate for cultural democracy. The love for the arts and the professional fulfilment derived from seeing the tangible benefits of their work also motivate these practitioners.

Key Messages to the Powers That Be

Participants articulated clear and urgent messages for the new ministerial team:

• Recognise the Value: Emphasise the significant social, educational, and economic value of participatory arts.
• Provide Sustainable Funding: Advocate for long-term, equitable funding models to ensure the stability and impact of participatory arts projects.
• Support Professional Development: Invest in resources and training to enhance the skills and effectiveness of participatory arts practitioners.
• Promote Inclusivity and Accessibility: Prioritise making the arts accessible to all, breaking down barriers to participation.
• Acknowledge Well-being Benefits: Integrate the therapeutic benefits of participatory arts into public health strategies.
• Champion Cultural Democracy: Support policies that ensure cultural expression is a right for all, celebrating diversity and challenging traditional hierarchies.
• Enhance Public Engagement: Support campaigns and initiatives to raise public awareness about the benefits of participatory arts.
• Facilitate Cross-Sector Collaboration: Promote partnerships between the arts and other sectors like education, health, and social services.
• Advocate for Policy Support: Ensure supportive policies at local, regional, and national levels that recognise the arts as integral to social and community development.

The gathering concluded with a call for the new ministers to listen to the voices of practitioners and communities, to better understand their needs, challenges, and successes.

For a detailed summary of the discussion and the draft collective letter to the new ministerial team, please click here to read the AWA-Gathering-July-2024-Dear-Powers-That-Be-NOTES-2024-07-08.

We hope this account of our meeting will help inspire significant support and recognition for participatory arts, ensuring their continued impact on individuals and communities across the UK.

If you are passionate about the value and potential of participatory arts, we invite you to join us in our mission. By becoming a member of the ArtWorks Alliance, you will be part of a network of practitioners, researchers, funders, and policymakers who share knowledge, resources, and opportunities to advance the field of participatory arts. You will also have a voice in advocating for the recognition and support of this vital sector, both nationally and internationally. To find out more about the benefits and process of joining the ArtWorks Alliance, please visit our website, or contact us. We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you to our community of practice.

Resources

The document mentions several resources and citations along with their URLs. Here is a list of these resources:

1. Reflective Piece on Socially Engaged / Community-Based Projects:
– URL: [https://issuu.com/openeyegallery/docs/reflecting_on_creative_neighbourhoods_open_eye_g]

2. The 2020 Rome Charter:
– URL: [https://www.2020romecharter.org/pagine/charter]

3. Creative Health Quality Framework:
– URL: [https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/resources/creative-health-quality-framework]

4. Europeana Impact Playbook:
– URL: [https://pro.europeana.eu/page/europeana-impact-playbook](https://pro.europeana.eu/page/europeana-impact-playbook)

5. Article by Eleanor Belfiore on the ‘Hidden Costs of Labour’ in SEAP:
– URL: [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1367549420982863]