'Potency and Potential' of creative connections in interstitial spaces' - learning from Latin American perspectives
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Sch of Fine Art History of Art&Cult Stud
Abstract
This project is an exploration of community practices that work with people in disconnected spaces, to create new connectivity, and capacity for change. Taking a lead from partners and perspectives within Latin America, this project brings together praxis-focussed artists, activists and academics from Brazil, Mexico and the UK, in a series of exploratory encounters (both face-to-face and virtual) that will investigate methods and processes for this work. Concentrating on understanding work in local community settings the focus of this collaborative investigation will be the ways in which such practitioners work with communal space, and specifically how these spaces become potentised, and how these practitioners can open up spaces with a qualities of what Victor Turner termed 'potency' and transformative potential, or 'potentiality' (1979: 465-6). These encounters of enquiry will enable practical approaches to interrogate, and be interrogated by, theoretical perspectives, brought to the discussion by artists, activists and academics from Latin America and the UK. Our intention is to create conduits for these influences and perspectives, and to enable knowledge exchange on three axes: between community artists and community activists, between academia and non-academic communities of practice, and between perspectives and experience of the global south (Brazil and Mexico) and global north (UK). Participants in the project will seek to co-produce knowledge and practice-based methodologies, informing the praxis of socially-engaged artists and activists, and to inform theoretical understandings of academics in the fields of social theory, activism and applied creative practice.
Deliberately aiming to disrupt traditional dynamics of North/South knowledge exchange the project will connect artist/activist communities from the Global South with peer communities from the Global North, introducing the fundamental value of building on the strengths from both geographies of creativity and activism, and particularly challenging linguistic exclusion and established dominance by knowledges from the Global North. These modes of engagement will contribute significantly to the CC programme as the literature suggests (Miura and Sawaia, 2013) 'Southern' thinkers are often highly attuned and advanced in their treatment of ideas of connection, disconnection, community and creativity (refs): themes at the core of Connected Communities scholarship.
Our 6 collaborating communities will connect by working together in intensive residential 'encounters' ('encuentros') in Brazil and the UK, using inclusive and non-hierarchical encounter processes that mirror the kinds of developmental workshops at the heart of the study. They will experience and interrogate each others' spatial-affective practices and ideas, from their respective fields of community arts and activism which overlap, but do not necessarily share recognised common languages or identities. The aim through these encounters is for the participating communities to co-create conditions that develop enriched understandings of their own work, that locate meaningful connections and comparisons for future mutual learning, and that inspire and motivate them to develop and continue these connections. The ultimate aim of the project, reaching beyond the lifetime of this award, is to develop an inclusive, interdisciplinary, international, arts/activism 'community (communities) of practice', in which fostering the creative potency and potential of spaces of activity is a key and conscious practice element.
References:
Miura, P. and Sawaia, B. B. (2013) 'Tornar-se catador: sofrimento ético-politico e potencia de ação' Psicologia e Sociedade, v. 25, p. 313-318
Turner, V (1979), 'Frame, flow and reflection: Ritual and drama as public liminality', Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 6 (4), 465-99.
Deliberately aiming to disrupt traditional dynamics of North/South knowledge exchange the project will connect artist/activist communities from the Global South with peer communities from the Global North, introducing the fundamental value of building on the strengths from both geographies of creativity and activism, and particularly challenging linguistic exclusion and established dominance by knowledges from the Global North. These modes of engagement will contribute significantly to the CC programme as the literature suggests (Miura and Sawaia, 2013) 'Southern' thinkers are often highly attuned and advanced in their treatment of ideas of connection, disconnection, community and creativity (refs): themes at the core of Connected Communities scholarship.
Our 6 collaborating communities will connect by working together in intensive residential 'encounters' ('encuentros') in Brazil and the UK, using inclusive and non-hierarchical encounter processes that mirror the kinds of developmental workshops at the heart of the study. They will experience and interrogate each others' spatial-affective practices and ideas, from their respective fields of community arts and activism which overlap, but do not necessarily share recognised common languages or identities. The aim through these encounters is for the participating communities to co-create conditions that develop enriched understandings of their own work, that locate meaningful connections and comparisons for future mutual learning, and that inspire and motivate them to develop and continue these connections. The ultimate aim of the project, reaching beyond the lifetime of this award, is to develop an inclusive, interdisciplinary, international, arts/activism 'community (communities) of practice', in which fostering the creative potency and potential of spaces of activity is a key and conscious practice element.
References:
Miura, P. and Sawaia, B. B. (2013) 'Tornar-se catador: sofrimento ético-politico e potencia de ação' Psicologia e Sociedade, v. 25, p. 313-318
Turner, V (1979), 'Frame, flow and reflection: Ritual and drama as public liminality', Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 6 (4), 465-99.
Planned Impact
Impact resulting from the 'Potency and Potential' project will be broad in geographical reach, wide in disciplinary scope, and potentially long reaching in practical legacy.
Potential beneficiaries:
-Freelance arts and activist practitioners, initially in the UK, Brazil, Mexico
-Third or public sector community development / community arts organisations in these regions (organisations engaging freelance practitioners; and with a strong continuing professional development ethos)
-Learning and professional development bodies (through informed input into practitioner training programmes)
-Community participants in future projects (through the greater confidence and effectiveness of arts and activist practitioners)
-Cultural and social policy makers (through informed policy decisions relating to programming and staffing community initiatives)
-Wider academic networks and discourses (through fresh diverse insights).
Where impacts beyond academia and policy will be evident:
-In the professional development offer; and effectiveness of projects and services in supporting locally-led positive change at community level
-In the cultural vitality, 'potency and potential' of local community sites of activity
-In the quality of life, confidence and wellbeing of citizens who participate in future project activity with impacted practitioners.
Impacts from collaboration
Amongst research participants and networks, from cross-sector working , impact will manifest as:
-A new international, practice/scholarship community of enquiry, focussing on the questions of spatial and affective practices in community arts and activism.
-The potential burgeoning awareness of, and animation of, a new trans-national 'community of practice'.
-Deepened awareness of the experience of Global South-North divide in how knowledge is differently valued, and the limiting impact of this on the development of discourses.
Further impacts
Triggered through the project's exchange activities, first wave impacts will stimulate (anticipated timescale for visibility - within 2-3 years of project start):
-More widely informed, dynamic academic and practitioner discourses within wider peer networks, (seen in conference papers, publication reference lists, CC network enquiry, practitioner forums, project proposals, activity in the field)
-Such new work underpinned by international perspectives and experience of community arts and activism (evidenced by quality and degree of internationally-informed work taking place, and interactivity with wider international peer networks - e.g. 'Hemispheric Institute')
-Benefits for practitioners in forming a new community of practice, including shared creative, facilitative and conceptual approaches, collaborative interrogation of praxis across barriers of discipline, practices, language and culture (seen in stronger practitioner confidence and clarity in articulating their methods, stronger practitioner voice and self advocacy by the sector)
-Increased international activity and collaboration influencing discourses within the CC Programme
-Flourishing of the community of enquiry.
We expect to see, beyond the project year, new cross-sector publishing, conference and research collaborations, which have their roots in the project. We anticipate that the Global South to North dialogue will result in links across linguistic and contextual divides which would not have occurred without the project, and with the potential to catalyse practitioners' and academics' career trajectories. These links - supported post project through the project blog, to be maintained for at least 5 years - will have inevitable impact on the practices of those involved, and hence on their project participants.
Potential beneficiaries:
-Freelance arts and activist practitioners, initially in the UK, Brazil, Mexico
-Third or public sector community development / community arts organisations in these regions (organisations engaging freelance practitioners; and with a strong continuing professional development ethos)
-Learning and professional development bodies (through informed input into practitioner training programmes)
-Community participants in future projects (through the greater confidence and effectiveness of arts and activist practitioners)
-Cultural and social policy makers (through informed policy decisions relating to programming and staffing community initiatives)
-Wider academic networks and discourses (through fresh diverse insights).
Where impacts beyond academia and policy will be evident:
-In the professional development offer; and effectiveness of projects and services in supporting locally-led positive change at community level
-In the cultural vitality, 'potency and potential' of local community sites of activity
-In the quality of life, confidence and wellbeing of citizens who participate in future project activity with impacted practitioners.
Impacts from collaboration
Amongst research participants and networks, from cross-sector working , impact will manifest as:
-A new international, practice/scholarship community of enquiry, focussing on the questions of spatial and affective practices in community arts and activism.
-The potential burgeoning awareness of, and animation of, a new trans-national 'community of practice'.
-Deepened awareness of the experience of Global South-North divide in how knowledge is differently valued, and the limiting impact of this on the development of discourses.
Further impacts
Triggered through the project's exchange activities, first wave impacts will stimulate (anticipated timescale for visibility - within 2-3 years of project start):
-More widely informed, dynamic academic and practitioner discourses within wider peer networks, (seen in conference papers, publication reference lists, CC network enquiry, practitioner forums, project proposals, activity in the field)
-Such new work underpinned by international perspectives and experience of community arts and activism (evidenced by quality and degree of internationally-informed work taking place, and interactivity with wider international peer networks - e.g. 'Hemispheric Institute')
-Benefits for practitioners in forming a new community of practice, including shared creative, facilitative and conceptual approaches, collaborative interrogation of praxis across barriers of discipline, practices, language and culture (seen in stronger practitioner confidence and clarity in articulating their methods, stronger practitioner voice and self advocacy by the sector)
-Increased international activity and collaboration influencing discourses within the CC Programme
-Flourishing of the community of enquiry.
We expect to see, beyond the project year, new cross-sector publishing, conference and research collaborations, which have their roots in the project. We anticipate that the Global South to North dialogue will result in links across linguistic and contextual divides which would not have occurred without the project, and with the potential to catalyse practitioners' and academics' career trajectories. These links - supported post project through the project blog, to be maintained for at least 5 years - will have inevitable impact on the practices of those involved, and hence on their project participants.
Organisations
- University of Leeds (Lead Research Organisation)
- Center for Studies, Creation and Documentation of Arts (Collaboration)
- Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (Collaboration)
- Artlink West Yorkshire (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Universidad Veracruzana (Project Partner)
- Encounters Arts (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (Project Partner)
Publications
Raw, A E
(2016)
"Potência e Potencial" em espaços criativos intersticiais: práticas espaciais transformadoras entre artistas/ativistas socialmente engajados
in NAVA: Revista do Programa de Pós-graduação em Artes, Cultural e Linguagens, Instituto de Artes e Design :: UFJF, Brasil
Kina V
(2017)
Augusto Boal's Theatre of the oppressed: democratising art for social transformation
in Critical and Radical Social Work
Kina V
(2018)
The continuing relevance of Paulo Freire: celebrating 50 years since the publication of Pedagogy of the oppressed
in Critical and Radical Social Work
| Title | A Mala (The suitcase) |
| Description | Short stop frame animation expressing the knowledge outcomes of the project from the perspective of Brazilian artist activist participants. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Impact | None notable yet as dissemination is at an early stage |
| Title | Kelly's drama scene with mind the gap |
| Description | Performance of a devised drama scene using Theatre of the Oppressed methodology, co-devised between Kelly di Bertolli and members of mind the gap theatre company (for people who are learning disabled). |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Impact | Impacts were recorded by members of the cast in the value of working differently with a new director - their theatre practice was extended, and their exploration of issues of sexuality and independence for learning disabled young people was shared with other learning disabled young people, for discussion and active participative involvement in the performance (Forum Theatre technique).Impacts were also noted for the company team, whose experience of working with Kelly demonstrated to them the breadth of theatre of the oppressed methodologies. The collaboration represented a training refresher for staff. |
| Title | Launch of POVO.one |
| Description | Whilst a communication platform (word press web page) was created as part of the original research project, there was the intention to migrate to a next phase platform, with the title POVO.one (resonant of 'one people'). This new platform was launched in July 2017, with web-linked group 'party' from 10 different sites (6 in Brazil, 1 in France, 3 in the UK) using google-hangouts. We hoped to use this site for collaborations, however this has not occurred. The site remains as an archive of the project activity. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2017 |
| Impact | The immediate impact from this product was in reestablishing proximity and shared purpose between network members, which is an important step in building our capacity to act in collaboration as a group. |
| Title | Podcasts |
| Description | The theatre practitioners reflected on their experiences during the pilot period, picking up on themes that arose during the sessions, and dramatising some elements of these to use as the starting point for discussion between the practitioners (Fernandes and Garcia) with the research assistants (Delgado and Mariano), titled Café con Afeto (Café/Coffee with Affect). |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | These were used to inform the wider network of the progress of the pilot, to prepare them for the second networking meeting, and downloads demonstrate good engagement from wider listeners around Brazil. |
| URL | https://teatrocomometodo.wixsite.com/meusite/podcasts |
| Title | Potency and Potential: Film in a suitcase |
| Description | Short creative film documenting the narrative of the research encounters forming the main activities in the project. This is displayed on a digital frame, contained within a suitcase as a portable archive, together with creative documentation of the encounter processes. The suitcase acts as a mini-cinema for focussed viewing of the film. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Impact | Early days as dissemination has so far been limited. |
| Title | Video solidarity artivism |
| Description | performance of 2 songs in solidarity for the situation of project collaborators from Brazil. Videoed and shared on social media. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2016 |
| Impact | 2,000 views and shares internationally on social media in 36 hours, rising to 18,000 within 3 days, using hashtags on facebook. Comments and dialogue in response |
| Description | While our award period is now complete, key findings develop continually, as the legacy of the project unfolds. We sought to bring together and learn across different perspectives - on how creative arts spaces and processes can create possibilities for change: We created two collaborative research encounters, to explore the 'atmospheres' in community (arts/creative) workshop/spaces, and what enables such spaces to carry the possibility of change, or inspire people to work together for change. Network participants came from academic, practitioner and activist communities in Brazil, Mexico and the UK. The approach was 'action research', exploring the question through discussion, and experiencing different practices while we were together. Our gradually distilling headline findings point to the paramount importance of 'affect': affinity at the personal and communal level through values, shared as a language of connection, even where linguistic and sometimes political barriers were obstructive. We gained significant learning from the project, through some difficult phases of social and political dynamics, that highlighted the importance of establishing that those participating in such a collaboration are willing and open to finding shared ground, beyond post-colonial tensions inherent in Global North/South partnerships. Ultimately, we found that the 'potency and potential' we sought to understand grew through experimentation with a range of 'languages' including physical languages/using the body; creative and aesthetic languages allowing non-verbal communication; spatial practices in which affinity was allowed to develop, in which imagination of future collective action could grow and excite all collaborators, despite different life experiences and privileges. We distilled a number of practical and group-facilitative factors that might be pivotal in creating an environment that can be 'potent' enough to catalyse collective action or change. Summarised: a) Creating a space separate from everyday distractions; b) Ensuring physical comfort to allow relaxation and reflection; c) Introducing new experiences, disorientation, diverse engagement styles, (visual creativity, physical movement, sound and music creation, conversations, playfulness); d) Building significant mutual trust (positive 'affect') between those in the space, including carefully challenging obstacles to trust. One route is through collaborative creative processes, where issues can unfold indirectly without confrontation / loss of trust; e) Recognising passion for the aims of each other's work; sensing each other's deep commitment (trust-building as well as motivating); f) Exploring concrete next steps, and communication mechanisms that suit people's needs and habits, allowing future collective action to follow. We used a blog site and 'What'sApp' group, however communication has not sustained as a whole group. Current contact resides in a small number of active members, through whom further connections are occasionally reactivated. We later recognised the significant contribution of virtual spaces of connection in potentising and catalysing collective action, extending the physical spaces we had shared, and spaces of creative imagination where we co-constructed future imaginaries, and where obstacles could dissolve. A subsequent research project building on this work, and involving 2 members of the network, has further distilled how 'affect' functions as an activist intervention catalyst, but that working with 'affect' is a highly specialist skill. |
| Exploitation Route | This remains a continuing discussion between project collaborators, in a project in which knowledge has been co-produced between all members of the project. There have been and continue to be follow-on initiatives with several members of the research project taking forward aspects of the learning, and collaborative activity is ongoing despite the scarcity of funding to support this. Two key cornerstones of our findings have emerged as particularly important, and these relate to 'affective ties' built through shared experiences (including ideas exploration, creative processes, risk etc); and the additional extension of spaces of connection to incorporate virtual and digital spaces: using platforms which we can and want to access. However, since affective ties develop best through actual (face to face) contact, sustaining virtual affective ties is elusive. Those taking this work forward might concentrate exploratory efforts on: 1) how often face-to-face contact is needed between creative activists working across cultural, linguistic and life-experience differences, in order to sustain affective ties that remain potent enough for collective social/political action; 2) how the different forms of languages used to overcome barriers and build affective ties can be effectively translated or adapted, for use in different settings and real-life scenarios (including virtual connections). |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | Our research produced new ideas on how to collaborate transnationally at community level, to produce work and joint initiatives with local societal impacts (socio-economic impacts for local communities, and for cultural practitioners). The non-academic impacts were multiple in the initial post-grant period and can be summarised as: • new collective ventures by network members aiming at societal and quality of life improvements both in the UK and in Brazil • new economic opportunities for individuals and third sector organisations, created through or following on from this grant • training initiatives created through the project together with state and third sector partners in both UK and Brazil, aiming at policy and public service impact • pathways to new funding, enhancing, continuing and amplifying the impacts of this project • pathways into continuing learning opened up or enhanced for non-academic network members by this project: including wide new practice dissemination following completion of a PhD, entry into academic work in a research role; refocussing of MA and PhD studies influenced by the project, and network members pursuing masters and doctoral study as well as informal learning opportunities. New articulation of one participant's artistic practice as a learning tool, and as a research method; production of an e-book in 3 languages (English, Portuguese, Spanish) that is both practice based and theory-referenced, in effect a re-positioning of an artist's core practice for wider societal benefit, with user-friendly dissemination tool/output • pathways in artistic practice directly influenced by this project, leading to greater artistic acknowledgement and profile Collective ventures include seeking out pathways to piloting new approaches to the execution of service delivery (social and health services, youth and social care services), using theatre processes that focus on creating spaces that can promote positive affect, and reflective conscientisation, amongst people facing social, political (and even personal) challenges. These have taken various forms, and taken place across the UK and in Brazil. Additional collaborations at community level, which demonstrate the real world application of our action research findings, have begun since the main research activity took place, including between peer third sector arts organisations, arts collectives and individual professional practitioners, with the impact of increasing openness to embrace new collaborations with international partners, and raising aspirations to future practice partnerships. One such collaboration led to the new network (calling itself 'Potency & Potencial Artivista Collective' ) co-bidding for a professional art commission with the Horniman Museum, London. While the bid was unsuccessful on this occasion the appetite to co-bid and the procedures for so doing were strengthened. Other examples include the initiation and organisation between members of the collective of several paid workshop commissions for one of the visiting members, in order to share with UK artivist practitioners, the specialist Brazil-based thinking on theatre as a tool for activism. Further paid opportunities were created following the project's activities: several for one network member in particular (Kelly Di Bertolli) to deliver professional development skills for practitioners (community workers and acts practitioners) in the UK, based on her advancing understandings in her own practice (international adaptations, deeper understandings of spatial issues). Further creative opportunities for Kelly have also resulted: E.g. she was invited to co-direct a theatre piece with one UK-based theatre company (Mind the Gap, based in Bradford), using her methodology to support young people with learning disabilities to negotiate sexual relationships, with consciousness and agency. The piece was performed to a wide audience of learning-disabled young people and agencies within the sector, drawn from West Yorkshire, UK, at an information event that took place in Bradford, March 2017. Other related opportunities have been initiated in Brazil and the UK: Kelly has completed her PhD (under her non-artist name Kelly Fernandes) since the original project, and she was involved in developing, and subsequently engaged as a Co-Investigator on, the successful subsequent research grant, which enabled her to use and disseminate her doctoral research much more widely. This in turn has raised her profile nationally and internationally. She has been in dialogue with numerous interested parties about delivering practitioner training - for example with the Co-operative College in Manchester, and with local and regional service delivery agencies in Brazil and in Scotland, and she completed her authorship of an e-book to articulate her practice ideas in three languages for practitioners as a result of the second research grant. The findings from our project were considered of significant interest by our non-academic partners and there was a strong interest in sharing and developing the ideas at a local level, as well as connecting to discuss this internationally. There has been inspiration and energy to pursue further opportunities to increase the impact of the original project through new applications of the ideas in different contexts - including focussing on methodologies (social as well as research methodologies). In the year following completion of this award there was a multi-sector collaboration amongst network members, developing a follow-on proposal to the AHRC, which sadly was halted due to PI illness, but still with the option to revisit this. This collaboration involved one community partner from the original project as Co-I, and six arts organisations across UK, Brazil and Mexico as new partner organisations. Four further submitted grant proposals have grown from the original bid, involving members of the original network in collaboration with the PI, and with different academics in the UK. One of these was successful, with ongoing further economic and societal impact. A second is awaiting notification, following a re-submission in September, (after initial rejection despite high scoring reviews). Impacts from the related (GCRF) grant include influencing service delivery ideas at local government and practitioner level, advocacy for unheard voices and under-represented societal challenges, and new and increasing economic and (formal and informal) learning opportunities for members of the original network, as well as individuals involved in later associated activities. Other members of the original network have pursued pathways that have been strongly influenced by the grant - two Brazilian members and two UK members have pursued pathways into (or back into) formal education - one applying for doctoral research funds, one accepted onto an MA in film studies, and two others pursuing options for MA studies. One member's artistic practice has been heavily influenced: Lou Sumray experimented with digital animation as part of the documentation process for our project, and produced an animation as an artistic artefact for our project. She has continued animating, for example creating three animated short films since the project ended, that have won an art prize in the UK, and winning prizes and screenings at several international film/animation festivals (in Leeds International Film Festival, UK, Lille Festival of Animation in France, and others festivals in Brussels, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Vienna, and Alexandruopolis, Greece). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
| Description | Co-I conference travel bursary to present paper on project |
| Amount | £888 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of South Wales |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2016 |
| End | 10/2016 |
| Description | Departmental visiting scholar subsistence bursary, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures |
| Amount | £200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Durham University School of Applied Social Sciences Travel Funds |
| Amount | £350 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 05/2016 |
| Description | Interrogating the value of theatre-based methodologies as a research tool for addressing the effects of violence on young people's education pathways |
| Amount | £54,795 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/S003800/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2019 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Description | Leeds-based collaborating VCS arts organisation funded workshop delivery |
| Amount | £400 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Artlink West Yorkshire |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | Local train travel for visiting scholar |
| Amount | £200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | Santander Mobility Scholarship |
| Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 05/2016 |
| Description | Santander Mobility Scholarship |
| Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 07/2017 |
| Description | School of Applied Social Sciences PI travel support to present conference paper |
| Amount | £350 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2016 |
| End | 10/2016 |
| Description | Travel/small personal |
| Amount | £200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | University of Dundee School of Education and Social Work, Project funds |
| Amount | £350 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2016 |
| End | 02/2016 |
| Title | 'Social Theatre of the Affects' as interdisciplinary arts/social science 'intervention research' method |
| Description | Our research project sought to interrogate the research method value of a new social intervention theatre process: 'Social Theatre of the Affects', created by Dr Kelly Fernandes. The process has proven intervention value, but we investigated its potential to also generate unique research data relating to social phenomena: specifically to sensitive, emotional and political dynamics (e.g. we investigated it's research value in relation to understanding, more deeply than hitherto, the challenges young people experience due to living under conditions of violence). We found the potential to be clear, albeit as a very specialised and resource-intensive research method. The method comprises a unique assemblage of approaches: it is in the combination of a unique theatre approach (which explores the personal and collective emotional context for experiences of social and political phenomena, using embodied theatre techniques and collective analysis) with more established research approaches to collect the data that emerges (from qualitative social science methods: participant observation, ethnographic field notes, video-visual ethnography) that the originality lies. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The social intervention theatre process 'Social Theatre of the Affects', when combined with the data capture methods we trialled, can now be considered a plausible interdisciplinary research method. |
| URL | https://teatrocomometodo.wixsite.com/meusite/post/já-estão-dispon%C3%ADveis-as-versões-em-inglês-e-e... |
| Description | Artlink West Yorks |
| Organisation | Artlink West Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Invitation to collaborate in the project design; Involvement throughout from participant recruitment to activity, including Artlink representative receiving all expenses paid attendance at second (UK) residential research workshop. Opportunities to co-author work based on this partnership. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Space offered for two recruitment information meetings; Time (attendance) of Artlink CEO at these meetings; Recruitment of freelance artists to the project through Artlink networks; Attendance of Artlink representative at 3 day residential workshop; Hosting of all-day theatre skills workshop for practitioners. |
| Impact | Theatre skills workshop organised by Artlink representative. Strengthening collaboration with University of Leeds, towards new collaborative work with other Leeds based cultural organisations. Subsequent involvement in AHRC networking award bid, exploring comparative evaluation practices in Leeds (UK) and São Paulo (Brazil) |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | PUC-SP/NEXIN |
| Organisation | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Hospitality and Delegate fees for NEXIN academic representative attending first residential research workshop, Sao Paulo, Brazil; International flight (Brazil-UK), hospitality for 4-week research trip, and delegate fees for 3-day residential research workshop for PUC-SP PhD scholar; International flight (Brazil-UK), and delegate fees for 3-day residential workshop for NEXIN practitioner representative. Opportunities for visiting PUC-SP PhD scholar to present findings and practice for special events at 3 UK Universities (University of Leeds 15/2/16; University of Dundee, 22/2/16; University of South Wales, 8/3/16); Discussions with 4 UK University drama departments (see above + Exeter University) regarding potential PhD research period based with a UK University; Administrative and legal team time to work up a Memorandum of Understanding between PUC-SP and University of Leeds (still pending, awaiting sign-off). |
| Collaborator Contribution | Two-hour meeting of the NEXIN group to introduce the research: Including loan of the space, 3 hours of research network leaders' professorial salary; two hours from each of 15 members of the NEXIN research group at the meeting. Two days attendance by NEXIN academic representative at Sao Paulo residential; Post-residential debrief meeting: two hours of professorial salary Administrative and legal staff time involved in translating and approving Memorandum of Understanding paperwork. Additional funding to support subsistence of project PI on subsequent research visit to deliver seminar to Research NEXIN network members |
| Impact | Potential development of further larger scale funding opportunity between PUC-SP and Durham University; Co-authorship on 3 papers/articles by PUC-SP PhD scholar Kelly Di Bertolli; Attendance by PUC-SP PhD scholar at UK AHRC academic conference, University of East Anglia, 22-23/3/16, including co-presenting with 2 of the project's investigators; New sub-collaboration incorporated, between this partnership and SENAC, State Community Development Agency of Brazil; contributions by SENAC into the project have included minimum 3 weeks of staff time by SENAC officer, developing local links and attending 2 residential workshops; This fostering of a new link with SENAC has led to further partnership building between SENAC and University of Dundee, including a publication initiative. Paid work opportunities for PUC-SP PhD scholar in delivering skills workshops for professional practitioners, whilst visiting the UK (totalling approx. £1,300); PhD scholar Kelly Di Bertolli's workshops fostering new professional skills amongst approx. 80 practitioners, for use in their on-going practice. Further visiting scholar trip for Kelly Di Bertolli in 2017, 3-week visiting fellowship at University of Dundee with publication collaboration; and personal seminar and lecture invitations at 4 UK universities: University of Dundee; University of Leeds; University of Manchester; Durham University. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Universidad Veracruzana |
| Organisation | Center for Studies, Creation and Documentation of Arts |
| Country | Mexico |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | One international flight from Mexico to Sao Paulo Brazil, and hosting Dra Ahtziri Molina, academic and project collaborator, during 2 international trips (Brazil and UK) and all expenses for participation in research colloquia as part of the project. Visit made to partner institution while in Mexico City, paid by Dr Anni Raw personally Co-authorship on a paper to CEISAL 8th International Conference: 'A Post-Hegemoic Era: Society, Culture and Politics in Latin America', Salamanca, 2016 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partner Institution released Dr Molina for 2.5 (FT) weeks of teaching and professional duties to participate in the research project at 2 points during the year 2015-16. Dr Molina paid for one international flight, Mexico to UK, to participate in one of our international research colloquia. Dr Molina contributed intellectually to the planning and proceedings of both international colloquia, and to discussing findings as part of the project. Dr Molina is leading on the co-authorship of papers and articles relating to the project. Partner Institution has invited editorship by project collaborators Dr Hilary Ramsen (University of South Wales) and Kelly di Bertolli (Universidad de Sao Paulo) of a special issue of the Scenic Arts of the 'Revista de Investigación Teatral of the Universidad Veracruzana', Autumn 2017, on on 'Artivism'. Co-authorship on a paper to CEISAL 8th International Conference: 'A Post-Hegemoic Era: Society, Culture and Politics in Latin America', Salamanca, 2016 |
| Impact | Invited presentation by Dr Anni Raw to MA student seminar: Artivismo: artistas catalizando el cambio, la salud y el bienestar; at the Maestría en Artes Escénicas, Universidad Veracruzana, on the 4th of November 2015; Joint paper co-authored, Dr Anni Raw with Dra Molina and Community partner Cauê Ueda : 'Artivismo y su articulación social desde la base'. Accepted and presented at the 8th CEISAL International Conference at Salamanca, Spain. 28th June-1st July 2016. Anni Raw (University of Leeds) Caue Ueda (Baixo Centro, Sao Paulo) Ahtziri Molina (Universidad Veracruzana Partnership is multidisciplinary, as it involves arts (visual and performing arts) and social science (sociology) academics, along with community partners. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Additional Kelly workshop, University of Dundee |
| 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 | 'Theatre of the Oppressed' Workshop led by Brazilian research participant and arts practitioner, organised by Dundee-based Co-I, as part of an extension trip funded by University of Dundee; 28 attendees from University of Dundee (staff and students), the local council, NHS, third sector orgs - encouraged reflection and discussion on use of theatre and performance in different practice settings (five people have since been in touch to say the workshop inspired and/or energised them); one link developed between School of Life Sciences and School of Education and Social Work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Artlink |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 'Social Theatre of the Affects' Workshop delivered by Brazilian Co-I and theatre practitioner Kelly Di Bertolli, organised in collaboration with partners from previous research grant: Artlink West Yorkshire. Funded and hosted by Artlink West Yorkshire; 12 attendees from the local arts practitioner community, activist community members, third sector orgs - encouraged reflection and discussion on 'practitioner burn out'; use of theatre and performance to explore emotional contexts for practice (people have since been in touch to say the workshop inspired and/or energised them - one participant said best and most useful workshop ever attended) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/artlinkwy/posts/1883379111796337 |
| Description | Bahia Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 'Social Theatre of the Affects' Workshop delivered by Brazilian Co-I and theatre practitioner Kelly Di Bertolli, organised in collaboration with project network member Licko Turle. 40 local teachers from the state of Bahia, North East Brazil participated - encouraged reflection and discussion on use of theatre and performance in different practice setting with young people in schools, specifically focussing on marginalisation and youth mental health. Now have created a whatsapp network between themselves to support continued thinking and practice. NB All DAC participants |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Brazil, São Paulo, Community voice workshop with actors, during follow-on research trip by PI, May 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 20 participatory theatre practitioners and some of their family members attended a voice workshop delivered by PI Anni Raw, hosted by project participant/collaborator Kelly Di Bertolli; purpose: to share artivista practices across international and linguistic boundaries. Links persist with 6 practitioners, leading to co-bidding for funds to collaborate on AHRC networking grant. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Co-operative College Collaboration Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Open discussion between Fernandes and Raw with the UK Projects Manager and International Projects Manager from the Co-operative College, exploring further research and training / workshop opportunities in the area of reflective practice and in theatre methods, with a particular focus on engaging with young people from hard to reach groups. Early stages of development, but promising email exchanges since on continued interest and seeking potential funding |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Co-operative College Workshop, Manchester |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 'Social Theatre of the Affects' Workshop delivered by Brazilian Co-I and theatre practitioner Kelly Di Bertolli, organised in collaboration with potential future partners/collaborators Manchester Co-operative College; 16 attendees from amongst Co-operative Movement affiliates/ community, third sector orgs - encouraged reflection and discussion on use of theatre and performance in different practice setting with young people and community groups. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.thenews.coop/145495/topic/education/co-op-college-theatre-workshop-explores-alternative-... |
| Description | Conference performance/ presentation (UEA) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Performance presentation of research findings to other research teams and their collaborating partners in Connected Communities group. Significant audience interest and engagement with both the form and the findings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Dundee Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 'Theatre of the Oppressed/Social Theatre of the Affects' Workshop led by Brazilian Co-I and theatre practitioner Kelly Di Bertolli, organised by Dundee-based contact, as part of an extension trip funded by University of Dundee; 20 attendees from the local council, NHS, third sector orgs - encouraged reflection and discussion on use of theatre and performance in different practice settings (people have since been in touch to say the workshop inspired and/or energised them) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Exchange and networking event, University of Dundee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Event aiming to initiate links and opportunities for reflection on community development practice. 20 attendees including representatives from the University (across five Schools), the local council, third sector orgs - encouraged a reflection on current approaches to community development practice in Dundee (two people have since contacted me to say that the session encouraged them to reflect on their practice); one link made between a third sector organisation and SENAC (Brazilian State Community Development Agency); opened up a dialogue between a Community Learning and Development practitioner for Dundee City Council, a storytelling practitioner and a visiting Brazilian theatre practitioner, leading to initial discussions of a 'Theatre of the Oppressed' workshop series for local women. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | First community-initiated theatre workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Ensuing from contact between arts practitioners from the UK and Brazil, who are community participants in our project, mutual interest in understanding each others' practice resulted in independent links; and two locally based arts practitioners organised a full-day, paid, community based, specialist Theatre of the Oppressed workshop for other theatre practitioners, led by one of the Brazilian research participants. Recruitment of workshop participants was through their own professional networks and University networks, with the venue offered by our community partner organisation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Kelly Cardiff teaching |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Brazilian Theatre specialist (and research participant) delivered 2 improvisation workshops within University of South Wales theatre studies school. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Post Graduate seminar, UFF, Niteroi, Brazil, PI delivered during follow-on research trip, May 2016 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | PI Presented findings to Art and Sociology Post Graduate researchers, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Audience of 25 arts practitioners/academics, very stimulated, different approach to knowledge in their field, and useful comparative experiences discussed. Interest from 2 students in possible study in the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Second Bradford-based Theatre workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Ensuing from contact between arts practitioners from the UK and Brazil, who are community participants in our project, mutual interest in understanding each others' practice resulted in independent links; Two locally based arts practitioners organised a further two-day, paid, community based, specialist Theatre of the Oppressed workshop for other theatre practitioners, led by one of the Brazilian research participants. Recruitment of workshop participants was through their own professional networks and University networks, and for this extended workshop the venue was offered by a further third sector arts organisation - disability threat organisation Mind The Gap. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Strategic linking meetings in Dundee |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | • Monday 22nd Feb - Meeting with Dean of Research of Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD), Community Learning and Development lecturer, a local filmaker and five members of the Brazilian network - ongoing discussions between DJCAD, School of Education and Social Work and Brazilian network to think through possibilities for collaboration. • Tuesday 23rd Feb - Meeting with manager of Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre, a Community Learning and Development lecturer, two members of the Brazilian network and Co-I - one outline project proposal submitted for consideration by Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre - emerging collaboration • Tuesday 23rd Feb - Meeting with manager of PAMIS (leading charity working with and for children with profound and multiple learning disabilities), NHS Occupational Health Practitioner, Storytelling Project Manager, two members of the Brazilian network and Co-I - contacts exchanged; • Wednesday 24th Feb - meeting with Dundee City Council Community Learning and Development Practitioner, Brazilian Theatre of the Oppressed practitioner and Co-I, to discuss a Theatre workshop series with local women (possibly focusing on survivors of domestic violence) - Brazilian practitioner to write initial proposal and funding opportunities, Council worker and Co-I to explore funding - emerging collaboration • Wednesday 24th Feb - meeting with manager of Dundee International Women's Centre, to discuss a Theatre workshop series- Brazilian practitioner to write initial proposal and Dundee International Women's Centre and Co-I to explore possible funding - emerging collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Suitcase displayed / virtual attendance at community arts event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Three artistic outputs from our project (a suitcase installation, including miniature projection of animated film, and video) were displayed as part of a community pop-up event in Bradford City Centre. The event hosted up to 250 people, including families, artists and local charity organisations. Our exhibit had its own site alongside other arts products (projections, performances, exhibitions) in a reclaimed shop space. We had a bench beside the exhibit, and people came and sat to watch the videos and explore the suitcase - which were artistic interpretations of the project outcomes, created as alternative dissemination practices. As well as exhibiting the 'Potency and Potential' suitcase, we also succeeded in creating a live web-link during the event, between the creative producer of the event in Bradford and one of the creative producers in our UK/Brazil network. This peer-to-peer link was stimulating for both parties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Third community-based, practitioner workshop, Devon |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Ensuing from contact between arts practitioners from the UK and Brazil, who are community participants in our project, mutual interest in understanding each others' practice resulted in independent links; Devon-based partner organisation 'Encounters-Arts' organised a full-day, paid, community based, specialist Theatre of the Oppressed workshop for other theatre practitioners based in the South West of England, led by one of the Brazilian research participants. Recruitment of workshop participants was through their own professional networks, with the venue offered by our community partner organisation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Video messaging |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | During an extension to the activities planned as part of the project, a collaborative team from within the project - PI, two artist/participating collaborators from the UK and one artist/participating collaborator from Brazil, created an artist/activist work together in response to the political upheavals taking place in Brazil in March-May 2016. Working with text, music, visual staging and video, two short performances were created and posted on social media. These were shared on Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms, and quickly reached an audience of 2,000 across Brazil and the UK. Shares included the former president Lula, and the posts were included on other websites showing citizen action in the political upheavals. Many comments were made in response, both positive and negative. The creative team was amazed at the speed and power of this stage-1 impact, and this influenced our beliefs in the opportunities for using social media for sharing local and home-created activism. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Welcome / Introductory event, University of Leeds |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Event to introduce our project and share artist/activist practice between visiting delegation of 5 practitioners from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and local artist/activist practitioners in Leeds and surrounding area. Event was attended by 26 diverse interested participants, who made independent contact to secure a place, on seeing the publicity. Academics new to the project from 4 different departments including arts and social science disciplines interacted with the visiting practitioners, as well as practitioners and arts organisations from the local area. Results have included invitations and visits to local arts projects; invitations for visitors to run workshops for the University; links set up to follow up interest in PhD study at the University; and opportunities for Portuguese language students to volunteer on local Sao Paulo arts projects during their sandwich year in Brazil. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Xandi's film for World Community Development Conference 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Co-I Vic Jupp Kina has commissioned Xandi Gonçalves (project community participant) to create and produce a documentary film, to be shown at the 2019 World Community Development Conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.wcdc2019.org.uk/ |
| Description | performance/presentation of research findings (Porto, Portugal) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 25 international researchers attended performance of our findings; significant interest in the form, the findings and the film (artwork) we shared. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | practitioner workshops (Pistoia, Italy) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 22 artists attended 2-day workshop delivered by project PI, during academic residency in Tuscany, Italy. Significant interest, leading to discussions, professional development stimulation, and follow-up contacts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |