Art of Healing Follow-on: Impact and Engagement (Update)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of the West of England
Department Name: Faculty of Environment and Technology
Abstract
This follow-on funding project will advance the impact of our previous AHRC research and support for children and young people living in conflict areas. It is designed to enhance the value and benefits of 'the Art of Healing' (AHRC-funded: AH/V004263/1) by: delivering new therapeutic arts programming for at least 60 children in Kashmir; supporting project legacy; establishing sustainable team collaborations; and widening geographic scope and international collaborations for future delivery. Moreover, the follow-on supports achievement of Sustainable Development Goals including: the need to work towards peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG16) ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages (SDG3). This includes specific efforts to support mental health and reduce the global suicide rate.
In the Art of Healing, we worked closely with teachers, staff and 30 children at the Dolphin International School (Pulwama, Kashmir) for 18 months. Student participants demonstrated a number of troubling emotional and mental health challenges such as depression, self-harm, anxiety, lethargy and lack of motivation. Our research and analysis shows that involvement with the arts and art therapy can lead to significant improvements in wellbeing. This includes improvements in self-esteem, belonging, motivation and agency, mindfulness and expressivity. In the follow-on programme, our overarching aim is to build on these findings and continue to develop the impact of our research and support for children and young people living in conflict areas. This work will take place according to the schedule detailed below.
Timeline: this follow-on work will be conducted across four phases over 12 months. Critically, the leadership in planning and delivery of this work is shared by the PI Dr Buser and the arts team (Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust and Vikramjeet Sinha). The Co-Investigator team will provide regular inputs and feedback through virtual meeting sessions and be strongly involved in dissemination and outreach activities.
Phase 1 (months 1-3): Centres on networking, relationship-building and co-design with new partner and user communities.
Phase 2 (months 4-6): includes delivery of knowledge exchange, training, and arts-activities with partners in Srinagar (Kashmir), national and international outreach and advancing team sustainability.
Phase 3 (months 7-9): monitoring and supporting activities in Jammu and Kashmir and finalising our collaborative frameworks and sustainability mechanisms.
Phase 4 (months 10-12): final curation of documentation materials and exhibitions, evaluating the impact of these follow-on activities and ensuring continued collaboration.
Outputs: This project will deliver enhanced impact by widening engagement with new stakeholder communities, disseminating internationally, and strengthening the legacy of the Art of Healing study. Our primary output is to facilitate the delivery of art therapy to approximately 60 children living in conflict settings. Moreover, the follow-on fund provides the ability to further test our findings in new contexts as expand delivery and widen impact. Through these activities we will provide a project report (and web updates) an updated workbook and training materials as well as visual and text documentation and a final curated exhibition. Finally, the follow-on funding will support the establishment of sustainability via innovative collaboration and funding models.
Feasibility: we are confident in our ability to accomplish the follow-on aims and objectives in a professional and timely manner. Our team delivered the Art of Healing project through very challenging circumstances (related to the political circumstances associated with the conflict as well as Covid-19). We have established relationships, collaborations and working models that will facilitate project delivery and success.
In the Art of Healing, we worked closely with teachers, staff and 30 children at the Dolphin International School (Pulwama, Kashmir) for 18 months. Student participants demonstrated a number of troubling emotional and mental health challenges such as depression, self-harm, anxiety, lethargy and lack of motivation. Our research and analysis shows that involvement with the arts and art therapy can lead to significant improvements in wellbeing. This includes improvements in self-esteem, belonging, motivation and agency, mindfulness and expressivity. In the follow-on programme, our overarching aim is to build on these findings and continue to develop the impact of our research and support for children and young people living in conflict areas. This work will take place according to the schedule detailed below.
Timeline: this follow-on work will be conducted across four phases over 12 months. Critically, the leadership in planning and delivery of this work is shared by the PI Dr Buser and the arts team (Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust and Vikramjeet Sinha). The Co-Investigator team will provide regular inputs and feedback through virtual meeting sessions and be strongly involved in dissemination and outreach activities.
Phase 1 (months 1-3): Centres on networking, relationship-building and co-design with new partner and user communities.
Phase 2 (months 4-6): includes delivery of knowledge exchange, training, and arts-activities with partners in Srinagar (Kashmir), national and international outreach and advancing team sustainability.
Phase 3 (months 7-9): monitoring and supporting activities in Jammu and Kashmir and finalising our collaborative frameworks and sustainability mechanisms.
Phase 4 (months 10-12): final curation of documentation materials and exhibitions, evaluating the impact of these follow-on activities and ensuring continued collaboration.
Outputs: This project will deliver enhanced impact by widening engagement with new stakeholder communities, disseminating internationally, and strengthening the legacy of the Art of Healing study. Our primary output is to facilitate the delivery of art therapy to approximately 60 children living in conflict settings. Moreover, the follow-on fund provides the ability to further test our findings in new contexts as expand delivery and widen impact. Through these activities we will provide a project report (and web updates) an updated workbook and training materials as well as visual and text documentation and a final curated exhibition. Finally, the follow-on funding will support the establishment of sustainability via innovative collaboration and funding models.
Feasibility: we are confident in our ability to accomplish the follow-on aims and objectives in a professional and timely manner. Our team delivered the Art of Healing project through very challenging circumstances (related to the political circumstances associated with the conflict as well as Covid-19). We have established relationships, collaborations and working models that will facilitate project delivery and success.
Organisations
- University of the West of England (Lead Research Organisation)
- Dolphin International School (Pulwama) (Project Partner)
- Delhi Public School Srinagar (Project Partner)
- Building on Art Therapy (Project Partner)
- Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust (Project Partner)
- National Innovations Public School (Project Partner)
| Description | The main achievement of this project was the testing and delivery of a training module for schools in Kashmir. The project worked with three schools, who agreed to collaborate on arts/wellbeing activities for teachers. The teachers participated in training activities over the course of the year and learned about how they can work with young people through the arts in a trauma informed way. The project supported over 50 teachers in this way. As a direct result of this award, we now have a tested model of teacher training that can be used within Kashmir and other areas where young people have experienced trauma. |
| Exploitation Route | Our arts and wellbeing team - led by Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust and Vikram Sinha have developed a specific approach to working with schools and communities. They have developed a workbook and supporting materials to deliver these activities. Some of these materials can be accessed via our website. However, there are also specific training programmes that we have developed to support schools and organisations looking to draw on creativity and the arts to support young people who have experienced trauma. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy Education Healthcare |
| URL | https://artofhealing.org.uk/ |
| Description | The project is only just finished (Feb 2024). As such, we are still reviewing our impact. However, we have conducted extensive research with school staff and administration teams. This includes interviews and feedback workshops across the three school partnerships. At this stage we know that: B) Our work has influenced change within school administration. Specifically, we have seen a change in attitudes and curriculum programming in each school where the arts for wellbeing is more commonly accepted. We are seeing an increase awareness of mental health and support by school administrators to facilitate training of teachers. B) we have seen teachers embrace Art of Healing methodologies and take new approaches to working with students. Primarily here, teachers are more aware of trauma informed approaches to teaching and working with young people. Additionally, teachers are expressing enthusiasm for working with the arts across a range of disciplines. These school based impacts are a direct result of our Art of Healing impact and engagement programme in Kashmir. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Art of Healing Carnival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Our carnival event was a large presentation, workshop and dissemination activity held in Srinagar (Kashmir). The activity was led by students and staff at the three schools who presented creative activities they had developed during the previous 6 months. The carnival was a celebration of creativity and expression and enabled the schools and children to show off their work. Over 100 participants attended the events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Collaborative partner workshop (Delhi) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This multi-day workshop involved organising collaborators from Kashmir and developing our impact and engagement plans. The event was held in April 2023, in Delhi, as it is difficult for UK based researchers to gain access to Kashmir. We were joined by about 15 representatives from schools in Kashmir who were looking to partner with the team on the project. Through this activity we were able to explain our approach and methodology for working with schools, teachers and students. We finished the event with plans and agreements in place to work with three schools in Kashmir. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |