Creative Doodle Book: Developing Inclusive Community Arts Engagement during Physical Distancing
Lead Research Organisation:
York St John University
Department Name: Sch of Creative Art & Design
Abstract
The disruption caused by Covid19 has forced community arts companies to drastically adapt their
activities. This has been particularly impactful on organisations working with marginalised or
vulnerable people, many without the social or economic capital to access digital arts activities.
During 'normal' times, the arts have a vital role in supporting resilience through providing
opportunities for positive creative expression. During the Covid19 crisis, it is even more vital to
find ways for everyone to express their creativity in community contexts.
This project will adapt and extend the 'Creative Doodle Book', a hands-on resource developed by
the project PI and Mind the Gap Theatre Company (MTG) in 2019. Through a series of playful tasks
and activities, the Doodle Book facilitates creative reflection designed to support personal agency.
During May 2020, MTG successfully piloted the at-a-distance delivery of the Doodle Book during
lockdown with their network of learning-disabled artists.
Building on these positive early indicators, this project will work with MTG, and access champions
Totally Inclusive People, to develop the Doodle Book as a model of inclusive physically distanced
practice. In a blended approach, this will be accompanied by adaptive support and accessible
resources to reach individuals otherwise excluded from digital arts activities. We will work in
collaboration with twenty community arts groups, and adopt a train-the-trainer approach to
provide a structure that can be expanded at scale. The project will also provide evidence of the
role of creativity in wellbeing and personal agency in times of extreme uncertainty.
activities. This has been particularly impactful on organisations working with marginalised or
vulnerable people, many without the social or economic capital to access digital arts activities.
During 'normal' times, the arts have a vital role in supporting resilience through providing
opportunities for positive creative expression. During the Covid19 crisis, it is even more vital to
find ways for everyone to express their creativity in community contexts.
This project will adapt and extend the 'Creative Doodle Book', a hands-on resource developed by
the project PI and Mind the Gap Theatre Company (MTG) in 2019. Through a series of playful tasks
and activities, the Doodle Book facilitates creative reflection designed to support personal agency.
During May 2020, MTG successfully piloted the at-a-distance delivery of the Doodle Book during
lockdown with their network of learning-disabled artists.
Building on these positive early indicators, this project will work with MTG, and access champions
Totally Inclusive People, to develop the Doodle Book as a model of inclusive physically distanced
practice. In a blended approach, this will be accompanied by adaptive support and accessible
resources to reach individuals otherwise excluded from digital arts activities. We will work in
collaboration with twenty community arts groups, and adopt a train-the-trainer approach to
provide a structure that can be expanded at scale. The project will also provide evidence of the
role of creativity in wellbeing and personal agency in times of extreme uncertainty.
Organisations
| Title | Creative Doodle Book |
| Description | The Creative Doodle Book contains playful tasks and instructions designed to encourage creative expression through arts-based activities. It is divided into three sections - ideas to help you do; ideas to help you think; and ideas to help you reflect. The Creative Doodle Book can be used in a variety of context. For this project it was a hand-held resource used in the delivery of blended online/offline arts activities with community groups during Covid-19 lockdowns. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | The Creative Doodle Book has been used with community groups across the UK, including with groups working with people with learning disabilities, in care homes, arts groups and others. Testimonies and evaluations have indicates it has benefits in supporting creative expression and in doing things together while apart. |
| URL | http://www.mind-the-gap.org.uk/projects/creative-doodle-book/ |
| Description | During COVID-19 in-person community arts ceased, with the sector having little to zero prior experience of online delivery required to find new ways of engaging isolated and often vulnerable participants. This research project investigated the value and potential of inclusive online community arts for learning disabled adults during COVID-19 lockdowns. In collaboration with Mind the Gap Theatre and Totally Inclusive People we developed a model for online practice (named 'the Creative Doodle Book') that we delivered in conjunction with 31 partners across the UK, working primarily with people with learning disabilities but also in other contexts including mental health and dementia. Our policy findings describe the value of arts practice to wellbeing within these communities; their potential as inclusive spaces; and the need to provide ongoing training and support to enhance the inclusivity and accessibility of online resources. Covid-19 saw a rapid switch to online, digital provision across a huge range of areas of our society This project worked with individuals - and their support networks - who were amongst those most affected by this switch as well as the wider impacts of COVID-19. In particular, learning disabled adults were amongst those most vulnerable to COVID-19 and simultaneously most negatively impacted by isolation and lockdown. The community arts adapted to this new scenario rapidly and creatively, and provided vital support to vulnerable individuals. This research project developed a model for inclusive online practice tailored for learning disabilities adults and other community groups. In total we ran over 115 Creative Doodle Book workshops and also conducted interviews with practitioners and participants. A few considerations emerged from our work: • Knowledge and support for learning disability digital services was low, with assistance dependent upon the high commitment of those involved, often operating under high stress and limited resources. • With the proper access and inclusive practice, online community activities can be invaluable and rewarding for learning disabilities adults. Without this support the isolation of many vulnerable individuals would have been extreme. • Creative arts provide opportunities for self-expression that supported wellbeing during isolation. • Greater skills development and resources would have enabled stronger, more cohesive and more sustained delivery from community arts organisations. • Barrier to engagement included a lack of training or resources amongst those supporting learning disabled adults; advantages included gains in accessibility and inclusion |
| Exploitation Route | The CDB has been incorporated into the ongoing practice of several of the organisations that engaged with the project, including Mind the Gap who use it as part of their performance academy with learning disabled artists. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy |
| Description | The Creative Doodle Book has been used directly with over 31 partners across the UK, significantly arts organisations working in the context of learning disabilities, but also in the context of mental health and dementia. This included arts organisations, schools (esp SEND departments) and other charititable community groups. In addition the resources were used independently by a range of arts and community arts organisations. The process has informed how they engage with and work with participants remotely and in creative reflective practice. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Creative Economy |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | As part of the launch of the project York St John University and Mind the Gap Theatre Company issued a joint press release. This has resulted in news stories/interviews in various outlets including: Radio York, Radio Leeds, Bradford Telegraph, The Stage. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Press and publicity for the project, in part to disseminate the project and develop a further network for its dissemination. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | The project involves ongoing public engagement throught the running of Creative Doodle Book workshops, online, with arts and community participants. At the time of writing we have worked with around 11 groups, delivering a total of 44 workshops. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Creative Doodle Book seeks to engage community and arts groups with an innovative model of online arts practice. We've been doing so by working with groups in 4 week cycles. To date we've worked with around 11 groups, with a target of at least 20 by the close of project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |