INDEPENDENT RESEARCH SOLUTIONS IRS _________________________________________________________ COTETS ACKOWLEDGMETS v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY vi LAYOUT OF THE REPORT xvii CHAPTER 1 : BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Intentions of the Re-imaging Communities Programme 2 1.3 The wider background to the Re-imaging Communities Programme 4 1.4 Aims and objectives of the evaluation 5 CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY 7 2.1 Introduction to methodology 7 2.2 Literature review 7 2.3 Sampling of projects 8 2.3.1 Choosing the samples 8 2.4 Observations, interviews and focus groups 10 2.5 Monitoring information 11 2.6 Survey data 11 2.7 Outputs and meetings 12 CHAPTER 3: THE WIDER BACKGROUND OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES , INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMMES 13 3.1 Policies, Initiatives and Programmes 13 3.2 Re-imaging Communities 14 3.3 The Executive’s Programme for Government (PfG) 16 3.4 A Shared Future (OFMDFM) 16 3.5 Neighbourhood Renewal 20 3.6. The Art of Regeneration 21 3.6.1 Background literature and ideas 21 3.6.2 The Art of Regeneration in Northern Ireland 22 3.7 Renewing Communities 24 3.8 Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) 27 3.9 The Department for Social Development (DSD) 29 3.10 Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) 31 3.11 International Fund for Ireland (IFI) 33 CHAPTER 4: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON SYMBOLISM 35 4.1 Purpose of the study 35 4.2 Role of the arts in economic and social regeneration 35 4.3 The political background 37 4.4 The meaning and role of symbols 40 4.5 Symbols in Northern Ireland 42 __________________________________________________________________ THE RE-IMAGING COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME ii INDEPENDENT RESEARCH SOLUTIONS IRS _________________________________________________________ 4.6 Literature and research on symbols in Northern Ireland 44 4.61 The general picture 44 4.62 Parades 45 4.63 Murals 48 4.64 Flags 56 4.65 Bonfires 60 CHAPTER 5: QUANTITATIVE FINDINGS FROM THE EVALUATION 62 5.1 Introduction to quantitative results 62 5.2 General background on all projects funded to date 62 5.2.1 Quantitative data on successful awards 62 5.3 Quantitative data derived from monitoring forms to date 71 5.4 Some findings from the survey 74 5.5 Summary material on a sample of completed projects 76 CHAPTER 6: QUALITATIVE FINDINGS FROM THE EVALUATION 80 6.1 Themes from interviews and focus groups 80 6.2 Shared Future 80 6.3 Community relations 82 6.4 Community cohesion 85 6.5 Regeneration through the arts 89 6.6 Neighbourhood renewal 93 6.7 Management matters 94 6.7.1 Views on management of the programme 94 6.7.2 Support from outside the Arts Council 96 6.7.3 Publicity, pre and post completion 100 6.8 The views of the artists 101 6.9 Challenges faced by projects 103 6.10 Suspension of the programme 107 6.11 The re-opening of the programme 110 6.12 The future of Re-imaging Communities? 111 CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION 113 7.1 Some comments on symbolism in Northern Ireland 113 7.2 Summary of funded projects 114 7.3 The creation of shared spaces 115 7.4 The correct timing of a programme of this nature 115 7.5 The usefulness of art as a medium 116 7.6 The building and/or strengthening of community/good relations 117 7.7 Cohesion, empowerment and ownership 118 7.8 The projects as catalysts for further improvement 119 7.9 Partnership/relationship development 119 7.10 Inclusion of those not normally involved in community matters 120 7.11 Challenges to the programme 121 7.12 How Re-imaging Communities impacts on wider policy 122 7.13 What does the future hold? 123 __________________________________________________________________ THE RE-IMAGING COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME iii INDEPENDENT RESEARCH SOLUTIONS IRS _________________________________________________________ GLOSSARY 125 REFERECES Bibliography 126 Legislation 136 Websites 137 APPEDICES Appendix 1: Performance areas and indicators 138 Appendix 2: Demographic data on the sample projects 139 Appendix 3: Monitoring form 141 Appendix 4: Progress report & end of project report forms 142 Appendix 5: Survey questionnaire 153 Appendix 6: Survey data carried out in 10 project areas 158 Appendix 7: Before and after photographs of some projects 174 TABLES AD DIAGRAMS Table1. Variables and categories for sampling 10 Table 2. Award rounds and size of awards 62 Table 3. Council areas where projects are based 65 Table 4. Types of projects and council or community led 66 Table 5 Nature and type of existing displays 68 Table 6. Types of artwork by types of project 70 Table 7. Years established and experience 70 Table 8. Types of projects (monitoring data) 71 Table 9. Age and gender of survey participants 74 Table 10. Outputs in relation to completed feasibility projects 77 Table 11. Outputs in relation to completed ‘shared space’ projects 78 Table 12. Outputs in relation to completed ‘shared space plus’ projects 79 Diagram 1 Background to Re-imaging Communities programme 5 Diagram 2. Number of workshops by type of project 72 Diagram 3. Age participation in workshops 72 Diagram 4. Religious background of workshop participation 73 Diagram 5. Gender composition of participation 73 __________________________________________________________________ THE RE-IMAGING COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME iv INDEPENDENT RESEARCH SOLUTIONS IRS _________________________________________________________ ACKOWLEDGEMETS This report would not have been possible without the help and assistance of many people and organisations to which we are very thankful. Firstly we are grateful to the many community groups and local Councils who were responsible for managing the projects for all the assistance they provided. They not only agreed to speak with us openly, but they arranged focus groups and interviews, allowed us to come along to their workshops and meetings, kept us updated on developments and much more. We would also like to thank the Arts Council and the Re-imaging Communities staff who provided assistance and guidance throughout the course of the research. Particular thanks go to Joan, Paul, Jackie, Amanda, Damien, Ann, Sara and Ciara for all their assistance and helpfulness with queries. Thanks also go to the Shared Communities Consortium who provided clarification on matters, assistance with sourcing material and also their views on the programme. Special thanks go to Peter Ward and Customer and Marketing Surveys (CMS) for carrying out the survey included in this study. Finally we would like to thank all those who agreed to speak with us over the two and a half year period when the research was carried out. The list is too long to detail but included artists, workshop participants, local Council staff and councillors, representatives from various statutory bodies, facilitators and mediators, arts groups, schools, youth organisations and community representatives. __________________________________________________________________ THE RE-IMAGING COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME v INDEPENDENT RESEARCH SOLUTIONS IRS _________________________________________________________ EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is based on the findings of an evaluation of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s pilot Re-imaging Communities programme. The evaluation was carried out over the first two and a half years of the programme, and it involved collecting and analysing a range of material and data, observing practice within the programme, and carrying out interviews, discussions and focus groups with a wide range of constituents. The conclusion of the study, based on the evidence of this extensive collection of data, is that the Re-imaging Communities programme has been a considerable success, both in relation to its own aims and objectives, but also in relation to the wider world of inter-group relationships across Northern Ireland. It is possible to identify a range of reasons as to why the programme was successful. To begin with the timing of its activities and opportunities was important, as it appeared to coincide with the emergence across the population of a general and more optimistic sense of community confidence and hope. The apparent ending of the violence, or most of it; the political agreements; the perceptible and newly generous spirit of change at a political level; all of these seemed to contribute to a new degree of confidence and optimism at community level and to suggest that people were ready for change. In addition the programme was managed by a Consortium of influential and experienced representatives from a wide range of statutory organisations; a group that recognised the importance of giving real responsibility to local communities and their leaders. The result was that some inclusive and original contributions emerged pointing towards a belief in the community’s potential to effect change and promote openness. What the Re-imaging Communities programme set out to achieve Northern Ireland is emerging from a conflict that has lasted over 30 years and in recent times the Government has recognised the importance of examining ways of addressing the consequences of this long conflict and its associated problems. Initiatives have included the development of programmes and interventions aimed at tackling deprivation, improving community relations, encouraging regeneration and creating a safer and more equitable society. In particular the public representation of the community separation has taken the form of a widespread and often remarkable __________________________________________________________________ THE RE-IMAGING COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME vi INDEPENDENT RESEARCH SOLUTIONS IRS _________________________________________________________ incidence of public symbolic displays, including marches, banners, flags wall paintings, bunting, and painted kerbstones. These displays are normally sectarian, antagonistic and offensive, and are intended as visible and unambiguous statements of opposition and aggression. Not surprisingly initiatives in relation to these matters have formed part of the new social and political agenda, leading to the idea of making use of artistic expression in addressing the physical manifestations of sectarianism and racism There exists considerable evidence of the economic and social benefits that can be achieved through the medium of art-related projects.