Making the arts more accessible

There are parts of the UK where involvement in art and culture are significantly below the national average. Participation in the arts should not be dependent on where people live or their social, educational or financial circumstances.

Partners

Lead community partner: Nicole Monney, Hangleton and Knoll Project (HKP)
Other partner: Brighton People’s Theatre
Researcher: Dr Helen Johnson, University of Brighton

Background

The Hangleton and Knoll Project (HKP) and the University of Brighton formed a partnership and used a novel methodology to train local people as participatory researchers who went on to co-produce a study on the arts and wellbeing in an area with high deprivation.

The project identified arts and culture interests and needs for the Hangleton and Knoll area. The trained participatory researchers discovered that the arts are highly valued locally but there is a perception that low status activities, such as crafts, dominate. A key finding from the research was that local people would like to have a centre for the arts locally – in part, because it is prohibitively expensive to go into the centre of the city and because of the importance of art activities for improving wellbeing. This research has created impacts as key stakeholders are now seeking to increase community involvement in the arts in deprived communities and its role in supporting a range of health issues. In addition, the partnership research has initiated a conversation between the community partner and a housing developer about the potential for a dedicated arts space locally. The community partner described the combination of academic support and research carried out by local people as ‘gold dust’ in terms of convincing key stakeholders in the city to act on the findings.

Key activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts

  • Trained eight local residents in basic research skills using arts-based ‘collaborative poetics’ research methodology (Johnson et al, 2017, 2018, 2019).
  • The community researchers were able to use this learning to develop a questionnaire to understand better, how members of the community perceived the arts.
  • With over 100 responses, they found that almost all the respondents were keen for a local dedicated arts space to engage in arts activities,but also to build relationships, reduce isolation, network and improve wellbeing.
  • HKP has begun discussions with a developer about the possibility of opening a dedicated local arts space.
  • Impact will arise from pledges to support local arts provision obtained from Brighton Dome, Brighton Festival and local council.
  • The processes and outcomes of this partnership will feed into the ‘Brighton & Hove Cultural Framework’ and the Arts and Creative Industries Commission.
  • Presented findings at a community psychology conference and to students.
  • Enabling two funding applications to local authorities and charities from community co-researchers to ensure sustainability of the project.
  • Enabling a funding bid under the local authority funded third sector investment programme
  • The project helped to support the development of the Collaborative Poetics research method and resources, and to evidence the efficacy of these through a case study that will benefit academic researchers in this field.
  • The local authority is using the work as an example of good practice in the City.

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