The Social Impact of NSW Arts, Screen and Culture Programs
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The Social Impact of NSW Arts, Screen and Culture Programs Final Report - April 2019 Deborah Stevenson, Sarah Barns, Jacqueline Clements, Cecelia Cmielewski, Phillip Mar The project team Professor Deborah Stevenson Dr Sarah Barns Ms Jacqueline Clements Dr Cecelia Cmielewski Dr Phillip Mar ISBN: 978-1-74108-488-7 DOI: 10.26183/5c871ae0c676c Acknowledgements The research team would like to acknowledge the co-operation and assistance of the Create NSW Strategy and Advocacy team in the preparation of this report. Typesetting and layout: Dr Andrea Pollio Cover image: Studio A BirdFoxMonster (2017). Photographer James Brown. Referencing guide: Stevenson, D., Barns, S., Clements, J., Cmielewski, C. and Mar, P. (2019) The Social Impact of NSW Arts, Screen and Culture Programs. Western Sydney University. This is an independent report produced by the Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University for Create NSW. The accuracy and content of the report are the sole responsibility of the project team and its views do not necessarily represent those of Create NSW. 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................4 Findings and Recommendations ............................................................................8 1. Key domains of social impact ............................................................................ 12 1.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................12 1.2 Health and wellbeing ...........................................................................................................................12 1.3 Community resilience and liveability .................................................................................................21 1.4 Social inclusion ......................................................................................................................................23 1.5 Cultural identity ....................................................................................................................................23 2. Evaluations of Create NSW initiatives ..............................................................25 2.1 Evaluated programs and types of evaluation ................................................................................... 25 2.2 Evaluation types and methodologies ................................................................................................. 26 2.3 Key evaluations of NSW programs concerned with social impacts and their findings .............. 27 2.4 Summary of evaluated programs ...................................................................................................... 31 3. Case studies for social impacts ..........................................................................33 3.1 Case study selection ............................................................................................................................. 33 3.2 The Case Studies ................................................................................................................................... 38 Milk Crate Theatre ................................................................................................................................. 38 Beyond Empathy ................................................................................................................................... 42 Studio A .................................................................................................................................................. 45 Art Gallery of NSW: Art and Dementia and other access programs .............................................. 48 Arts OutWest ......................................................................................................................................... 52 Blacktown Arts ....................................................................................................................................... 55 CuriousWorks ........................................................................................................................................ 58 Bangarra Dance Theatre ...................................................................................................................... 62 Conclusion .............................................................................................................66 Bibliography ..........................................................................................................67 Appendices..............................................................................................................71 Appendix A: Project Team .......................................................................................................................... 71 Appendix B: List of Interviews .................................................................................................................... 74 Appendix C: Interview questions ............................................................................................................... 75 Appendix D: Understanding Social Impact .............................................................................................. 76 Appendix E: Methodology and Program .................................................................................................. 86 westernsydney.edu.au/ics 3 Executive Summary Objectives of the research Scope of the research project NSW Aboriginal Arts and project Cultural Strategy which was Researchers from the Institute for designed to deliver 129 The purpose of the report is to Culture and Society undertook to initiatives to foster greater provide an analysis demonstrating deliver a report with the following opportunities to “participate the social benefits of arts and agreed outputs: in, share and strengthen their culture to the NSW community. culture through arts practice; This report was commissioned to and develop careers and 1. A summary and high-level assist Create NSW gain insights businesses in the arts and overview of the social impact of into the social impacts of arts, cultural sector” (Lois Randall selected programs delivered through screen and culture programs and Creative Consulting 2016: 10). Create NSW and the NSW cultural the role that arts and cultural institutions that have relevant policy can play in supporting evaluation reports and other data. programs that have positive social 2. An assessment of other notable The selected programs were: outcomes. It also considers the arts, screen and culture social valuable work currently being • Beyond Empathy and the impact initiatives in NSW and other done by Create NSW with respect film project, Rites of Passage jurisdictions. to social impact. directed by Phillip Crawford, Researchers undertook a which involved young people This study represents the first comprehensive literature from the Illawarra suburbs of attempt to take a broad view of review, summarised ways of Berkeley and Warrawong, two this important issue in the NSW understanding and measuring of the most disadvantaged arts, screen and culture sector social impact, gathered areas in New South Wales and thus should be seen as a information on arts, screen and (Vinson and Rawsthorne pilot study or starting point for culture initiatives with high levels 2015). understanding how the arts are of social impact, and identified mobilised to engage with social • Twelve arts and disability policy and funding models issues across this state. projects funded under designed to support and promote the NSW Arts and Disability these activities (as at Appendix E). Partnership between Create NSW and the NSW Department of Family and 3. Interviews with relevant arts Community Services, designed organisations and artists involved in to promote a culture of identified social impact programs inclusion in the arts and The research involved in-depth cultural sector for people with semi-structured interviews with a disability. representatives from: • The Art Gallery of NSW’s • nine arts organisations based Arts and Dementia initiative in NSW and funded through which involved a suite of Create NSW that are delivering access tours and educational programs with social impact programs for people with (interview questions are at dementia and their carers at Appendix C). the Gallery. For additional insights into the • Projects delivered under social impact of arts, screen Create NSW’s $3.8 million and cultural programs, these 4 Organisation Case study project Domain type Art Gallery of NSW Arts and Dementia Arts Health and Well-being Lachlan Health Service Culture and Arts Program; Arts and Community Resilience; Arts OutWest Aboriginal arts; Arts Health and Well-being Villages of the Heart. Bangarra Dance Theatre Rekindling Arts and Cultural Identities Maven; CCC Moree; Arts and Social Inclusion Beyond Empathy Sea of Bellies; Health and Well-being Rites of Passage. Blacktown Native Institution; Blacktown Arts Centre Stitching the sea; Arts and Community Resilience Danaher exhibition. CuriousWorks outreach; CuriousWorks Curious Creators; Arts and Cultural Identities CuriousWorks Social Enterprise. Headway; Milk Crate Theatre Arts and Social Inclusion Pathways. Studio A artists; Studio A Studio A partnerships; Studio A Arts Health and Well-being brand. Blak Box Urban Theatre Projects Arts and Community Resilience Right Here Right Now Table