 The Final Evaluation Report is available at http://www.cdhn.org/documentbank/uploads/CDHN%20Arts%20and%20Health%20Report.pdf
Background:
This project, funded by the Arts Council For Northern Ireland, has involved the co-ordination of a three year arts and health action research programme with socially disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The following groups were involved in the project :
1. Ethnic Minority: Ballymena Ethnic Community Forum
2. Gay Lesbian and Bi-sexual: The Rainbow Project
3. Age (Older people and younger people): Age Concern, Newcastle
4. People with Disabilities: Millview Resource Centre
5. Carers: Newry and Mourne Carers
6. People directly affected by the Troubles: Relatives for Justice
The project was developed because there was an increasing recognition of how community arts initiatives make people ‘feel good’ and so action research from this project sought to explore the impact of creative engagement on an individual’s well-being and its role in community connectedness. The research methods included diaries, questionnaires, focus groups, interviews, story telling dialogue, and the art activity itself. Following consultation with the selected groups it was decided to divide the art activity into ‘blocks’. This provided opportunities for each organisation to sample different art forms and work with different artists.
Each group engaged with the creative process working towards producing a unique individual or collective art product. These were displayed or performed at exhibitions, events, conferences or launches to celebrate and promote their achievements and experiences at various venues and occasions across Northern Ireland.
Examples of Group Projects
Newry and Mourne Young Carers
An animation film about being a young carer was premiered in Newry cinema in December 2006. The group found that this was a very accessible and unique vehicle to communicate the stories of the responsibilities, feelings and experiences of young carers. The film is an invaluable resource for raising awareness about young carers and could form part of a future training tool.
On St. Patrick’s Day the young carers took part in the Newry St. Patrick’s Day parade. Their float displayed art work produced by the young people and information statements about their experiences. This was accompanied by a group of young carers playing the drums alongside the artist involved in the music section of the project.
Relatives for Justice
The group premiered their play ‘Sons and Brothers’ at the Community Arts Forum (CAF) conference in Belfast. The workshop was facilitated by their project worker and artist involved in the writing and production of the play. In addition, a youth group from Relatives for Justice opened their photography exhibition at Culterlann in Belfast at the beginning of the CAF conference.
The Relatives for Justice group also undertook a music project. Intergenerational bonds were forged through song and drum playing as grandmothers, mothers and daughters and sons took part. The sound of their voices and drums filled the air in Galbally, as the group played and sang outdoors together.
Millview Resource Centre
The third block of art activities involved the group working together to produce a CD of their songs and music. After much consultation within the group one piece in particular, a Charlie Pride song, was selected and recorded for his concert last year. At the concert their recording was presented to Charlie Pride as a special gift from the group to the singer. The group were very proud of their rendition and were please he was able to receive it and acknowledge what they had done. It was a very special night for all those involved!
Completion of the project
The final evaluation report showed that 98% of participants had increased self-esteem after being involved in the arts activities. The impact on participants’ health was multiplied by the combined outcomes of improved self-esteem, friendship formation and increased social networks.
There was agreement between participants, project workers and artists about the individual and social impacts of participation in the arts and health project including improved self-confidence; skill development; improved self-efficacy; unlocked creative energies; therapeutic gain; increased social confidence; formation of new social networks and relationships; desire to engage further in arts activities and an awareness and recognition of the positive role of arts in health and well-being.
This final evaluation report was launched at a conference on the 11th October 2007. CDHN held the conference in partnership with the Community Arts Forum and Artscare. The conference was an energetic and unusual celebration of all the arts activities enjoyed over the course of the project, with performances from the Bench Project, from Artscare and from the Newcastle Age Concern group. The participant groups attended the conference and exhibited some of their arts work from over the last three years.
Rosemary Kelly, the Chairperson of the Arts Council launched the report. Dr Katrina Collins presented the evaluation findings. The report generated a model for successful arts and health projects, one which maximises the health impact. The report recommends future use of this model and more widespread support for arts and health projects from both the DHSSPS and DCAL.
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