Nottingham Playhouse: A Cultural History and Analysis of its Community Engagement
Lead Research Organisation:
Nottingham Trent University
Department Name: Sch of Arts and Humanities
Abstract
This project will be undertaken in partnership with Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and Nottingham Playhouse (NP) to develop a cultural history of the NP alongside a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the community-facing life of the theatre, mapping NP's community and outreach initiatives through engaging with both archival and community-based research. Exploring the pre-identified research questions using methodologies derived from Public Sociology methods such as ethnography and Participatory Action Research to complement Cultural History methodologies. Ultimately, I would make a toolkit encompassing recommendations for different outreach and engagement strategies and map a policy for NP by extrapolating from the data and information the research uncovers. I will ensure, wherever I am able, to introduce elements of co-production in both research and dissemination.
I will employ a historiographic approach to the archival research, which provides a framework for the ethnographic study of the NP through archival research (Ventresca and Mohr, 2001). Archive study will involve visits to: the Nottingham Evening Post (Nottingham), British Library (London), TNA (Surrey) and the MACE archives (Lincoln), though more sites may be identified through this research. The archival work currently is estimated at 12 weeks. Developing a cultural history of the NP as an organisation through the archive materials will be most successful if the experiences of the groups and individuals can be established and show the progress of the NP, assisting in the evaluatory element of the CDA (collaborative doctoral award). I envisage needing more specific training in archival work that could be undertaken with The National Archives, a M4C partner.
The CDA will build upon my academic development during BA and MA where I was able to develop concrete cultural engagement experience in conducting two previous research projects for Nottingham-based arts and culture organisations. At the National Video Game Arcade, I developed a feedback strategy for their Pixleheads education programme, and Place at the Renewal Trust, where I began to create an evaluation strategy for their participatory community arts programmes. As I have outlined, I have relevant experience of working within this sector in a research capacity and strong qualitative methodological skills to apply to this project.
In regard to the identified need to disseminate work-in-progress, I run a blog on critical-digital culture focusing on "how the values people hold interact with their use of technology" and am comfortable using different digital tools such as, WordPress and video editing software (Adobe Creative Suite) to create accessible content that engages different audiences.
The context of this CDA lies in the work already being undertaken at the NP, particularly within the participation initiatives. The democratisation of all aspects of theatre within the NP is in line with emerging development of cultural democracy within the arts sector as a whole. The report 'Towards Cultural Democracy' (Kings College London, 2017) outlines the need to identify cultural capability to move towards cultural democracy and this is what this project would aim to facilitate for the NP. I have contacted The NP and they have advised me of the identified key groups that they would like the initial research to focus upon:
Areas of deprivation and low engagement - 50/50 tickets, pay what you can
work with people with disabilities - Enabled Upstart
work with older people of all backgrounds - Encore group for the over 50s
work in schools - Taking work into classrooms, Arts Mark partnership and Schools Massive
I will employ a historiographic approach to the archival research, which provides a framework for the ethnographic study of the NP through archival research (Ventresca and Mohr, 2001). Archive study will involve visits to: the Nottingham Evening Post (Nottingham), British Library (London), TNA (Surrey) and the MACE archives (Lincoln), though more sites may be identified through this research. The archival work currently is estimated at 12 weeks. Developing a cultural history of the NP as an organisation through the archive materials will be most successful if the experiences of the groups and individuals can be established and show the progress of the NP, assisting in the evaluatory element of the CDA (collaborative doctoral award). I envisage needing more specific training in archival work that could be undertaken with The National Archives, a M4C partner.
The CDA will build upon my academic development during BA and MA where I was able to develop concrete cultural engagement experience in conducting two previous research projects for Nottingham-based arts and culture organisations. At the National Video Game Arcade, I developed a feedback strategy for their Pixleheads education programme, and Place at the Renewal Trust, where I began to create an evaluation strategy for their participatory community arts programmes. As I have outlined, I have relevant experience of working within this sector in a research capacity and strong qualitative methodological skills to apply to this project.
In regard to the identified need to disseminate work-in-progress, I run a blog on critical-digital culture focusing on "how the values people hold interact with their use of technology" and am comfortable using different digital tools such as, WordPress and video editing software (Adobe Creative Suite) to create accessible content that engages different audiences.
The context of this CDA lies in the work already being undertaken at the NP, particularly within the participation initiatives. The democratisation of all aspects of theatre within the NP is in line with emerging development of cultural democracy within the arts sector as a whole. The report 'Towards Cultural Democracy' (Kings College London, 2017) outlines the need to identify cultural capability to move towards cultural democracy and this is what this project would aim to facilitate for the NP. I have contacted The NP and they have advised me of the identified key groups that they would like the initial research to focus upon:
Areas of deprivation and low engagement - 50/50 tickets, pay what you can
work with people with disabilities - Enabled Upstart
work with older people of all backgrounds - Encore group for the over 50s
work in schools - Taking work into classrooms, Arts Mark partnership and Schools Massive
People |
ORCID iD |
| Sharon Monteith (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Laura Ewart (Student) |