Creative Collisions and Critical Conversations
Lead Research Organisation:
Goldsmiths University of London
Department Name: Ctr for Urban and Community Research
Abstract
Expression of Interest Cultural Value Expert Workshop: Arts and Mental Health: Creative Collisions and Critical Conversations
About the workshop organiser. Dr. Alison Rooke is sociologist whose teaching and research is concerned the dynamics of participation in the city brought about through arts-based urban interventions, urban planning, research and evaluation as well as informal spaces of citizenship and community. She is also CoDirector of the Centre for Urban and Community Research (CUCR) an established interdisciplinary research centre within Goldsmiths' Department of Sociology with a distinguished history of collaboration with local communities, activists and cross-sectoral stakeholders. Her work lies at the overlap of visual sociology and experimental methods exploring the philosophical underpinnings of sociological representation, and the ways that understandings of representation inform the epistemology of social research. Along with colleagues in the Sociology Department she shares a concern with concerned with 'The Social Life of Method' (Savage et al 2013) and 'Live Sociology' (Back and Puwar 2012). Alison has been influenced by ideas that challenge the notion that research impacts on society 'as if from the outside'. If research 'works' or is successful, it is by virtue of a variety of social actors contributing to it on an on-going basis, well before the research can be framed as a 'product' or as an 'outcome'. Indeed, much of Alison's evaluative research is co-constructed carried out in tandem with others outside of the academy. Alison continues to be engaged in a wide range of activities that embed this approach in a number of highly practical endeavours. Her work spans: the public sector; the policy community; the business community; international organisations; the community and third sector; the media; and 'publics' of various sorts. Alison's work has been concerned with developing critical and collaborative approaches to research and evaluation. She has an outstanding track record in developing a critical and participative approach to the evaluation of a variety of urban interventions spanning citizenship, community development, urban planning and participatory and socially engaged arts at a local, national and international level.
About the workshop organiser. Dr. Alison Rooke is sociologist whose teaching and research is concerned the dynamics of participation in the city brought about through arts-based urban interventions, urban planning, research and evaluation as well as informal spaces of citizenship and community. She is also CoDirector of the Centre for Urban and Community Research (CUCR) an established interdisciplinary research centre within Goldsmiths' Department of Sociology with a distinguished history of collaboration with local communities, activists and cross-sectoral stakeholders. Her work lies at the overlap of visual sociology and experimental methods exploring the philosophical underpinnings of sociological representation, and the ways that understandings of representation inform the epistemology of social research. Along with colleagues in the Sociology Department she shares a concern with concerned with 'The Social Life of Method' (Savage et al 2013) and 'Live Sociology' (Back and Puwar 2012). Alison has been influenced by ideas that challenge the notion that research impacts on society 'as if from the outside'. If research 'works' or is successful, it is by virtue of a variety of social actors contributing to it on an on-going basis, well before the research can be framed as a 'product' or as an 'outcome'. Indeed, much of Alison's evaluative research is co-constructed carried out in tandem with others outside of the academy. Alison continues to be engaged in a wide range of activities that embed this approach in a number of highly practical endeavours. Her work spans: the public sector; the policy community; the business community; international organisations; the community and third sector; the media; and 'publics' of various sorts. Alison's work has been concerned with developing critical and collaborative approaches to research and evaluation. She has an outstanding track record in developing a critical and participative approach to the evaluation of a variety of urban interventions spanning citizenship, community development, urban planning and participatory and socially engaged arts at a local, national and international level.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Alison Rooke (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | There is a great deal of recognition of the value of arts and health partnerships in benefiting 'participants' and benefiaries well being. There is also recognition that the arts can help improve the quality of health care and staff development. The research and subsequent public events, has provided opportunities for cross-sectoral dialogue and shared approaches to delivery and evaluation of these interventions to develop. |
| Exploitation Route | The researher continue to be in conversation with health commissioners, arts organisations, and the heritage lottery fund on developing research methodologies and evaluative frameworks for arts and health partnerships. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy,Education,Healthcare,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://cucrblog.wordpress.com/?s=collisions |
| Description | The finding from the research have been useful to health commissioners in the London Borough of Southwark. Several innovative arts/health partnerships have developed and collaborative approaches to evaluation have developed with the engagement of the researcher. A follow up conference took place at Goldsmiths in 2016. This was attended by practitioners, funders, health and arts practitioners from across the UK. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | All Party Parlimentary Group Report on 'Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing" |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | http://www.artshealthandwellbeing.org.uk/appg-inquiry/ |
| Description | Critical Friend |
| Organisation | Horniman Museum and Gardens |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am a member of an Advisory Group concerned with commissioning artists to work with Gallery Staff and community Representatives, many of whom are recruited from mental Health organisations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | On going discussion re good practice |
| Impact | Artist commissioning. Discursive events in Museum, forthcoming joint conference paper at Museums Association Annual conference (Nov 2018) |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | advisory group |
| Organisation | South London and Maudsley (SLAM) NHS Foundation Trust |
| Department | Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| PI Contribution | YoHa arts organisation led a research enquiry into the formation of governance through electronic record keeping in the domain of mental health care working with the Clinical Academic Group (addictions centre in Lambeth) and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, supported by the Wellcome Trust. A key aim of the project is to explore the contemporary role of databases currently utilised in the delivery of health services and how this research can create a critical, non partisan, creative space in which all those involved are able to revisit the meanings incorporated in using databases within this health care service environment. The project will seek to understand how databases construct a form of governance for service users and equally those that deliver those services. Database Addiction is the first phase of an arts research enquiry by YoHa into the role of databases currently utilised in the delivery of health governance working with staff at the NHS Clinical Addictions Group (the alcohol and drug service centre in Lambeth) and SLaM (South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust) and is supported by the Wellcome Trust. Using art methods the research team will investigate how the NDTMS (National Drug Treatment Monitoring System) structures governance or informs the centre at many levels and also beyond; how it may affect relations - between staff and managers as well as effecting service users; and how it may influence decision-making, politicians and resources alike. A second part of the research will see the project located with a service user centre in the area which through action research will further explore the aggregation of situated knowledge or lived logics with service users and staff. The research was evaluated through a Critical Friends Group (CFG), which I led. Rather than track and evidence impacts through a toolkit approach. The CFG took an approach whereby evaluation is a process of on-going: formative reflection between disciplines and sectors. It will offer an action learning mechanism and embedded pedagogical space within the projects development and delivery process. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The research was evaluated through a multimodal methodology. Evaluation was on-going: formative reflection and interdisciplinary multi-sector critical reflection, which took place through a Critical Friends Group. This provided an action learning mechanism embedded into the projects development and delivery. The group was drawn from the network established through the AHRC Cultural Value Art and mental Health Expert Workshop (April 2014) and through recommendations made the core team for expertise interdisciplinary software and computation studies and service user and clinical representation, which brought together experts to reflect on the ways that cultural values produce tensions between arts, health and social sectors, particularly in regard to the epistemological values underpinning evaluation. The Critical Friends provided an advisory evaluation panel, comprise of expertise in mental health and arts professionals, academics, researchers and managers including those with expertise and experience in the addictions field representing a service-user perspective. This group met for 2 sessions and was regularly updated on the activities, progress and outcomes. The Critical Friends Group reflected on this work and offered a critical perspective on successes, challenges and opportunities for learning and improvement. The Critical Friends provided an embedded pedagogical framework which - provided a space to reflect on ethical dilemmas and ethics monitoring surrounding the project - supported access and interpretation and processes in working with health sector staff; - enhanced the projects outcomes and outputs and to ensure the project has value and learning to all; - increased scope by raising the research profile through the groups extended networks. |
| Impact | The project was funded for a subsequent research phase Database Addiction 2.0. by the Wellcome Trust |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | advising on good practice -SLAM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Advisor to Peckham Platform Commission Twelve +. and SLAM arts commissioners . Provided a critical framework to the commission and brought together intersectoral dialogue regarding art/ care collaborations in general, and the partnership specifically. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.peckhamplatform.com/whats-on/exhibitions/twelve |
| Description | public talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Debate on the Value of art in addiction services at SLAM ORTUS Learning and Events Centre Panel: with Dr Luke Mitcheson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Head of Addictions Psychology, founding director and Twelve commissioner, Mark Prest from Portraits of Recovery. Venue: |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.peckhamplatform.com/whats-on/exhibitions/twelve |