Runmed March 2001 Bulletin
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No. 336 DECEMBER Bulletin 2003 RUNNYMEDE’S QUARTERLY revelation, so to speak, the one that A Sense of Place stood out for me was arts practitioners themselves From 24–27 November, the old Central Library building in the linking successful arts intervention projects to the utilisation of ‘social heart of Cardiff played host to the conference ‘A Sense of Place capital’ when devising and running – Displacement and Integration: the role of the arts and media in these sorts of projects. I’ll explain reshaping societies and identities in Europe’. Runnymede was one that in a moment, but first let me just step back and talk about why I of several partners facilitating this 4-day event organised by the came to this conference. British Council, and after a brief description of its aims and There are two main reasons. objectives, three active participants contribute their impressions, First, I have a strong personal belief beginning with Runnymede’s Director, Michelynn Laflèche. that it is possible to create a fairer, more just and more equal society and that I, as an individual, can ‘A Sense of Place’ was developed In preparation for this closing contribute towards creating it.This in the context of heightened public panel, we were asked to reflect on is on a very personal level, suspicion, fear and intolerance, and three questions: obviously, but it is a belief that evolving European human rights • the most memorable moment permeates all I do in all aspects of A section of the and immigration policies. Its aim of the conference for each of us my life. audience at the was to consider the shifting and how it has affected what Second is how the themes of seminar ‘From landscape since World War I, we think about the role and this conference relate to the work Arts and Cultural looking at how societies are in flux, Interventions to potential of media and arts to of the Runnymede Trust. Our Social how cities are in transition and transform society; report, The Future of Multi-Ethnic how rebuilding is taking place at Transformation • whether what we’ve learned Britain, which is the starting-point and Back Again: both a physical and psychological here will affect the way we for much of Runnymede’s current Practice– level.This international event conduct our work in the future, work programme in its perspective Research–Policy’, sought out the meeting grounds and how; on how to promote what we call created in between arts and social policy, • and, if asked to return in 2 years a successful multi-ethnic Britain, partnership with theory and experience, the Runnymede. The for a follow-up event, what outlines ideas and strategies for session was well personal and public. Setting the differences would we have improving social policy to achieve political context of migration on attended and observed or be able to report? that aim. But while the policy widely the opening afternoon of the Among numerous ‘moments’ of discussion and recommendations appreciated. conference, it then focused one full day each on the role of the media and the potential of the arts in, as the title so clearly states,‘reshaping societies and identities’.The concluding morning of the conference reflected on the discussions held over the preceding 3 days and tried to imagine what could be different in 2 years’ time through the personal reflections of four concluding speakers, of which I was one. ISSN: 1476-363X RUNNYMEDE’S QUARTERLY BULLETIN DECEMBER 2003 1 of this report may be very much same thing. But, as a result of relationship between research, arts Britain-focused, the vision is one discussions held here, I now view practice and policy-making, where that can be applied to the whole them as intrinsically related. Here’s each could influence the other.The of Europe, and a key theme is the why. opportunity to view a disjuncture need to reshape (reimagine even) In the session ‘From Arts and between these three at this society and identities, to begin to Cultural Interventions to Social conference leaves me with a understand Britain, and indeed Transformation and Back Again’, renewed vigour for our own Europe, as both a community of organised for this conference by project and a stronger belief that ARTS & communities and a community of Runnymede, a lengthy discussion arts practice with groups at risk or SOCIETY citizens. In order to realise this took place between arts facing disadvantage can have an vision, there needs to be created a practitioners and cultural policy- influence on social policy, when ‘I have common sense of belonging which makers/funders about the value cultural policy and social policy are noticed a must both foster and go hand-in- and potential of arts intervention understood to be intrinsically tendency to hand with valuing diversity, and this projects for making social change. related. separate all has implications, therefore, for Experiences were relayed There are many projects out social and the law and for social policy. suggesting that funding policy (to there, across the UK and Europe, cultural With this in mind, I wanted to be understood as wholly mediated that are attempting to do this, to policy as if contribute my thoughts and learn by cultural policy) impacted on the create social change through arts they were from others about how the arts in kinds of projects that could be intervention with vulnerable or distinct.’ particular are, or could be, created to win funding and altered disadvantaged groups of people, harnessed to impact directly on the aims of the arts intervention but the impact on social policy social policy, indirectly on the law, projects to reflect current cultural seems to be low. So the questions and affect more broadly the hearts policy concerns. remain: How exactly are these and minds of Britain’s and Europe’s The point of view of cultural projects going to influence policy- residents (Citizens or not!) policy-makers/funders was very makers? And what should our role towards devising and sharing a much the opposite and it was be as an organisation directly more inclusive vision for the future stated that what arts practitioners concerned with policy-making? – in other words, to explore the needed to do was apply their And how could we, in that way, get potential for arts to be used for ‘social capital’ to securing support policy-makers engaged in the social transformation. for their projects.The complexities creative process as part of social Runnymede is currently running of arts practitioner-led projects change? a major project called This is Where were not fully recognised in this For Runnymede, one answer I Live, which is about just that – discussion, but, even more has to be to refocus our own social transformation through arts, importantly from my point of view project – to explore in greater trying to use arts as the medium and my particular interest in the depth the full process of: (a) how and/or the methodology for creation of policy language, it arts practitioners work with young influencing social policy.The project seemed that the emerging social people, (b) how the social and links up with youth workers and policy focus on civil renewal and creative aims of the projects, arts practitioners working with social capital had permeated the devised to complement each young people to give them a voice thinking and views on practice of other, get worked through; and (c), through creative expression. But, cultural policy-makers. Not most importantly, get evaluated. beyond that, our project is surprising one might say, in The unique feature of our exploring how to use creative hindsight; but at that distinct contribution can be to identify a expressions and outcomes to moment a revelation nonetheless. methodology that utilises the impact social policy.Young people This leads me to the second creative processes in order to are taking part in this project not question for this morning — what explore social concerns and just because they want to make difference will this make to the disseminate policy music, film or poetry (powerful way we conduct our work in the recommendations directly to though that is) but because they future? Runnymede takes a social policy-makers. But this has to be a want to transmit their views and policy perspective on its work for methodology which is reflective ideas on identity and belonging to the This is Where I Live project.We and robust in the evaluation of its social policy-makers.The trick, of are not an arts organisation, nor own impact on policy-makers, course, is how to do that. have we spent much time working while fully respecting the needs of Reflecting back to Monday, I on arts and cultural policy issues. the project participants. started out with a question as to Our concern in this project is to In 2 years’ time, I would hope whether or not cultural policy and work with arts practitioners and that we could all of us – not just us social policy were the same thing. youth workers to bring the at Runnymede but most of you too In speaking with arts practitioners, creative outcomes of young – reunite to share our successfully through the medium of our people to the eyes and ears of implemented methodologies for project as well as at this social policy-makers concerned using creative mediums in the conference, I have noticed a with fostering greater equality and service of improving social policies tendency to separate social and inclusion in our society. for the achievement of a successful, cultural policy as if they were We started from the position inclusive, multi-ethnic Britain and distinct.