Creative Activism: Art and Development Alternatives (HN)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Centre for Applied Human Rights
Abstract
This project seeks to develop a researcher-activist-practitioner network to explore the ways in which art and creative activism can contribute to efforts to understand and enact development alternatives. Development alternatives is understood to mean the diversity of practice and thinking that offers an alternative to mainstream development approaches (e.g. neo-liberal, service delivery, aid-centred, hierarchical, entrepreneurial), in particular, diverse voices and approaches from the Global South rarely heard in development debates and practice.
Despite their success in terms of meeting targets, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) failed to engage sufficiently with inequalities and the structural causes of poverty and injustice. In contrast, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) present a more comprehensive and inclusive vision of development, partly as a result of a consultative process to develop the goals that incuded the voices of the 'poorest and most vulnerable' (UN, 2015, para. 6). As such, the SDGs may offer space for development alternatives to emerge, but only if there is strong civil society participation to insist on the reordering of development priorities. Exploiting this potential, therefore, will require the involvement of new actors in development policy-making and new ways to encourage the voice and participation of groups traditionally left outside the development process.
In this context, the aims and objectives of this network are innovative in five main ways: 1) It will be convened by an academic-practitioner partnership between the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) and Politics Department at the University of York, and the international development agency ActionAid. 2) The network will bring together artists, academics, activists and development practitioners from the UK, Bangladesh and Uganda - Bangladesh and Uganda will serve as regional hubs to facilitate participation from neighbouring countries. 3) The network will critically explore how art and creative activism - and specifically the themes of disruption, performance and translation - can articulate, shape and help deliver development alternatives privileged by those whose voices are often marginalised in development debates, and the extent to which these alternatives complement, enhance or are in tension with the global goals for development set out by the SDGs. 4) The network will deploy creative methodologies, specifically the use of fictional future scenarios, to trigger debate and shape alternatives. Art and activist workshops, followed by national reflection workshops, will be held in Dhaka and Kampala, followed by a final reflection workshop. This timeline of events will build momentum for the research network, and for a series of projects and funding applications on the theme of development alternatives. 5) Through ActionAid and local actors, the network will have clear pathways to impact.
The network will pursue four pathways to impact: Policy, organisational and practice impacts on NGOs; Public engagement, outreach and local impact in Uganda and Bangladesh; Methodological; Network building. Our most immediate impacts will be achieved within the non-governmental development sector internationally, in the UK and in the regions where the events will take place, but our aim is also to inform the practices, reflections and policies of international organisations (UNESCO, European Union) through our collaboration with ActionAid. Local impact in Uganda and Bangladesh, both recipients of high levels of ODA, will be achieved by working in partnership with local offices of ActionAid and other local actors in Dhaka and Kampala.
Despite their success in terms of meeting targets, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) failed to engage sufficiently with inequalities and the structural causes of poverty and injustice. In contrast, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) present a more comprehensive and inclusive vision of development, partly as a result of a consultative process to develop the goals that incuded the voices of the 'poorest and most vulnerable' (UN, 2015, para. 6). As such, the SDGs may offer space for development alternatives to emerge, but only if there is strong civil society participation to insist on the reordering of development priorities. Exploiting this potential, therefore, will require the involvement of new actors in development policy-making and new ways to encourage the voice and participation of groups traditionally left outside the development process.
In this context, the aims and objectives of this network are innovative in five main ways: 1) It will be convened by an academic-practitioner partnership between the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR) and Politics Department at the University of York, and the international development agency ActionAid. 2) The network will bring together artists, academics, activists and development practitioners from the UK, Bangladesh and Uganda - Bangladesh and Uganda will serve as regional hubs to facilitate participation from neighbouring countries. 3) The network will critically explore how art and creative activism - and specifically the themes of disruption, performance and translation - can articulate, shape and help deliver development alternatives privileged by those whose voices are often marginalised in development debates, and the extent to which these alternatives complement, enhance or are in tension with the global goals for development set out by the SDGs. 4) The network will deploy creative methodologies, specifically the use of fictional future scenarios, to trigger debate and shape alternatives. Art and activist workshops, followed by national reflection workshops, will be held in Dhaka and Kampala, followed by a final reflection workshop. This timeline of events will build momentum for the research network, and for a series of projects and funding applications on the theme of development alternatives. 5) Through ActionAid and local actors, the network will have clear pathways to impact.
The network will pursue four pathways to impact: Policy, organisational and practice impacts on NGOs; Public engagement, outreach and local impact in Uganda and Bangladesh; Methodological; Network building. Our most immediate impacts will be achieved within the non-governmental development sector internationally, in the UK and in the regions where the events will take place, but our aim is also to inform the practices, reflections and policies of international organisations (UNESCO, European Union) through our collaboration with ActionAid. Local impact in Uganda and Bangladesh, both recipients of high levels of ODA, will be achieved by working in partnership with local offices of ActionAid and other local actors in Dhaka and Kampala.
Planned Impact
The network will pursue four pathways to impact: Policy, organisational and practice impacts on NGOs; Public engagement, outreach and local impact in Uganda and Bangladesh; Methodological; and Network building.
1) Policy, organisational and practice impacts on NGOs
Our most direct impact within the NGO sector will be achieved on, and via collaboration with, ActionAid. As a leading international development agency, ActionAid has the capacity to inform thinking in the sector as a whole, in the UK and globally. Our partnership is therefore at the heart of our impact strategy. Specifically, the network will achieve impact within ActionAid and the development sector by providing empirical evidence of the value of art and creative activism for understanding development alternatives and their relationship with the SDGs; developing and testing arts-based research approaches and methodologies that can be used by ActionAid and others to inform their practice; informing the development and design of new programming work; supporting practitioners and activists to better understand the links between local-level work, human rights and grassroots development; and informing future national and global campaigning and advocacy priorities, notably related to critical engagement with the implementation of the SDGs.
By working with local academics, grassroots communities and ActionAid contacts, the network's activities will contribute to national discussions about development in Bangladesh and Uganda. For example, Bangladesh's next five year national plan will be developed from 2018/9; this network will organise an event to inform this process, led by local academics and activists, with support from ActionAid.
2) Public engagement, outreach, and local impact in Uganda and Bangladesh
In order to ensure that our findings are known widely within the UK NGO sector, the network will convene an event in collaboration the UK network of overseas development NGOs, BOND, as a way of sharing initial ideas on development alternatives with development NGOs, think tanks and academics in the UK. Locally, the research network will work with ActionAid offices and other local activists to convene similar dissemination events to similar audiences. Art work produced by the art and activism workshops will be showcased at relevant events and exhibitions e.g. the Dhaka literature festival in November 2017 and the Dhaka art summit in February 2018.
3) Methodological
Development has long been considered chiefly a field for scientific or social scientific knowledge; our intention is to challenge this misperception by working with artists and to encourage and define the value of inter-disciplinary and arts-based encounters and methodologies in development work. We will work directly with ActionAid to ensure that we address this issue in publications for NGOs and contributions to toolkits.
4) Network Building
This network will include an innovative and diverse set of actors. We intend it to be the first step to building a sustainable network and other innovative interventions around the SDGs and Agenda 2030. From the start, the network will seek to develop further projects and funding bids on the theme of development alternatives that specifically aim to take further the methods and impacts we achieve with this bid.
5) Impact Outputs
In addition to academic outputs, we intend to produce outputs for impact. These will include podcasts and short video documentaries; a sound archive of workshops/events; a series of blogs; discussion boards; policy briefs; and contributions to toolkits.
1) Policy, organisational and practice impacts on NGOs
Our most direct impact within the NGO sector will be achieved on, and via collaboration with, ActionAid. As a leading international development agency, ActionAid has the capacity to inform thinking in the sector as a whole, in the UK and globally. Our partnership is therefore at the heart of our impact strategy. Specifically, the network will achieve impact within ActionAid and the development sector by providing empirical evidence of the value of art and creative activism for understanding development alternatives and their relationship with the SDGs; developing and testing arts-based research approaches and methodologies that can be used by ActionAid and others to inform their practice; informing the development and design of new programming work; supporting practitioners and activists to better understand the links between local-level work, human rights and grassroots development; and informing future national and global campaigning and advocacy priorities, notably related to critical engagement with the implementation of the SDGs.
By working with local academics, grassroots communities and ActionAid contacts, the network's activities will contribute to national discussions about development in Bangladesh and Uganda. For example, Bangladesh's next five year national plan will be developed from 2018/9; this network will organise an event to inform this process, led by local academics and activists, with support from ActionAid.
2) Public engagement, outreach, and local impact in Uganda and Bangladesh
In order to ensure that our findings are known widely within the UK NGO sector, the network will convene an event in collaboration the UK network of overseas development NGOs, BOND, as a way of sharing initial ideas on development alternatives with development NGOs, think tanks and academics in the UK. Locally, the research network will work with ActionAid offices and other local activists to convene similar dissemination events to similar audiences. Art work produced by the art and activism workshops will be showcased at relevant events and exhibitions e.g. the Dhaka literature festival in November 2017 and the Dhaka art summit in February 2018.
3) Methodological
Development has long been considered chiefly a field for scientific or social scientific knowledge; our intention is to challenge this misperception by working with artists and to encourage and define the value of inter-disciplinary and arts-based encounters and methodologies in development work. We will work directly with ActionAid to ensure that we address this issue in publications for NGOs and contributions to toolkits.
4) Network Building
This network will include an innovative and diverse set of actors. We intend it to be the first step to building a sustainable network and other innovative interventions around the SDGs and Agenda 2030. From the start, the network will seek to develop further projects and funding bids on the theme of development alternatives that specifically aim to take further the methods and impacts we achieve with this bid.
5) Impact Outputs
In addition to academic outputs, we intend to produce outputs for impact. These will include podcasts and short video documentaries; a sound archive of workshops/events; a series of blogs; discussion boards; policy briefs; and contributions to toolkits.
Organisations
- University of York (Lead Research Organisation)
- Makerere University (Collaboration)
- University of Dhaka (Collaboration)
- University of Chittagong (Collaboration)
- ActionAid (Collaboration)
- PICA Studios (Collaboration)
- CHRISTIAN AID (Collaboration)
- Global Platforms (Collaboration)
- Jahangirnagar University (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Paul Gready (Principal Investigator) | |
| Jean Grugel (Co-Investigator) |
| Title | Development alternatives |
| Description | 2 x two week residencies from conceptual artist Shohrab Jahan and writer Patience Nitumwesiga at Pica Studios; culminating in a screening about the creative alternatives work at Pica Studios followed by a discussion with an audience of 60 people. Films screened were Emilie Flower and Ruth Kelly's introductory film, Shohrab Jahan's, A Landscape Happening and the premiere of Patience Nitumwesiga's, Communion. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbMLV63wP5YNxOlZBHzf-FRMzVF8Ug5bz |
| Title | Development alternatives |
| Description | 3 exhibitions of the work in the UK, - An exhibition with a process film of the Body Maps from Chittagong, alongside a talk and a 360 screening of the film Landscape Happening, An introduction to the Creative Alternatives Workshops and the Ugandan Poetry Scenario at the Festival of Ideas to an audience of 50. - Creative alternatives display in the exhibition 'Art and Activism' at the Kings Manor in central York, January 2018; a new sound piece inspired by the creative alternatives work, Pods, by Rebecca Carr, Lynette Queck and Emilie Flower (not funded as part of this research). - A window display inspired by the creative alternatives project in the centre of York, Uprooted by sculptor and collage artist Lu Mason as part of Art and Activism (not funded as part of this research). |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| Title | Development alternatives |
| Description | 4 arts projects funded by the small grant made available for exploratory art within the research: - 'A Landscape Happening' by conceptual sculptor Shohrab Jahan, which took place on Chittagong harbour, at least 300 people saw the happening, see the film, 'Landscape Happening'. - Adaptation of 'A Letter to a Child Never Born' by theatre director, Ribon Khandokar with 2 performances to audiences of 70 - 100 people in Jahanginagur University and Dhaka. 3 additional performances inspired by the workshop, of 'Urthiri - The Component' based on a conflict between nature based life and technology based life with the theatre group, "Tonnistho Natuya", inspired by the workshops. See film for details . - 'Reaching within us to beyond us' , a poem about the Arts and Activism workshop, by Ugandan poet Susan Kiguli, presented at poetry recitals in Uganda, and at the Ugandan National workshop in June 2018. See film, for details. - 'Communion', a fictional short film about a young woman escaping reality by Screen writer , patience Nitumwesiga, the film premiered in York, was screened in Uganda at the National workshop and will be screening at the Zanzibar Film festival this year. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | Public engagement. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbMLV63wP5YNxOlZBHzf-FRMzVF8Ug5bz |
| Title | Development alternatives |
| Description | 7 films to introduce the research and artistic collaborations: An introduction to the research; An introduction to the workshops; A Landscape Happening; Susan Kiguli's recital of 'Reaching within us to beyond us'; Film of the production of 'Letter to a child never born'; Communion; Collaborative scenario, Bangladesh; Collaborative scenario, Uganda. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Impact | Public engagement with the project |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbMLV63wP5YNxOlZBHzf-FRMzVF8Ug5bz |
| Title | Pushing Back: collaborative zine |
| Description | Zine produced at a Pushing Back workshop in Arusha, Tanzania, to discuss research findings with ActionAid colleagues and partners. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | Information sharing and awareness raising. |
| URL | https://www.developmentalternatives.net/#/pushing-back-1/ |
| Title | Pushing Back: soundscape from the interviews |
| Description | Soundscape', sounds and words from the interviews with 9 Action Aid human rights defenders by Emilie Flower. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | Information sharing and awareness raising. |
| URL | https://www.developmentalternatives.net/#/pushing-back-1/ |
| Title | Pushing back: case study films |
| Description | Nine films developed to illustrate the case studies from the Pushing Back project. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Impact | Dissemination within ActionAid, and use as an awareness raising and training resource. |
| URL | https://www.developmentalternatives.net/#/pushing-back-1/ |
| Description | Key findings from the research include the following: - the phrase "political imagination" emerged from the workshops as a useful way of thinking about the cognitive space available for imagining and articulating development alternatives; - toolkits describing arts-based methods, which tend to categorise by medium, are ill adapted to the way that vernacular cultural forms transcend established categories, mediums and genres, and adopt hybrid combinations of local traditions and approaches drawn from elsewhere; - artistic and activist communities in Bangladesh and Uganda are somewhat separate - artists can be resistant to working with activists for fear that their work will be instrumentalised, but collaboration is possible and fruitful if brokered using open-ended approaches; - understandings of the past, notably heritage narratives, have a strong influence on the political imagination today, and art/literature that reflects or explores such narratives can be read and analysed as making a theoretical contribution to research on the political imagination; non-academics are often skilled in interpreting and analysing such artworks and texts; and - an innovative commissioning strategy, where local artists were provided with small grants to respond to the workshops with no strings attached, resulted in the production of unexpectedly high quality pieces - thanks to the commitment of videographers and editors in all three countries (mostly unpaid), most of this work was documented in video format, and we found that these videos provide particularly powerful methodological prompts for debate and analysis. |
| Exploitation Route | Questioning the theories behind visioning based arts based methods; strength of imagining futures for imagining alternatives. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbMLV63wP5YNxOlZBHzf-FRMzVF8Ug5bz |
| Description | Impacts can be identified in the following areas: 1) Challenging participatory arts based practice. 2) Questioning the theories behind visioning based arts-based methods, strength of imagining futures for imagining alternatives, and emphasising the importance of understanding the findings from participatory arts based work in the context of local history in particular. 3) Supporting open ended conversation and deliberation about development alternatives that extended beyond the workshops, using films to prompt debate, taking ambiguous art pieces into public spaces to prompt questioning and sharing learning with academics, practitioners, students and artists during the research in screenings, conferences, papers and presentations. The project also informed a new AHRC-funded project, Can the Arts Save Human Rights? Human Rights Truth-claims in a Post Truth Era (2022-25). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | AHRC IAA award |
| Amount | £7,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 07/2017 |
| Description | Can the Arts Save Human Rights? Human Rights Truth-Claims in a Post-Truth Era |
| Amount | £822,573 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/W003155/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2022 |
| End | 05/2025 |
| Description | Chittagong, Makerere, and York Application for Follow-on Funding |
| Amount | £86,256 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | AH/S005749/1 |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | Pushing Back: Supporting Organisations and Movements in Contexts of Shrinking Civic and Democratic Space |
| Amount | £23,620 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Global Challenges Research Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 02/2020 |
| Description | Development Alternatives |
| Organisation | ActionAid |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The research team facilitated the workshops and the production of artistic and academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Arts based research workshop team in Uganda to produce a collaborative future scenario - Poetry Scenario with Helen Okiring, Scovia Arinaitwe, Phil Wilmot, Norman Tmuhimbise, Chimey Buka, Alex Atwemereireho, Fred Kawooya, recorded in 2 films of the collaboration. 2) Arts based research workshop team in Bangladesh to produce a collaborative future scenario - Theatre Scenario with Sisir Dutta, Alauddin Ali Kazi, Ribon Khandokar, Luna Noor, Shohrab Jahan. 3) UK National Practitioners Reflection Workshop organised in collaboration by Ruth Kelly (UoY), Kate Newman (ChristianAid) and Kate Carroll (Action Aid). 4) 2 conference papers, 1 working paper, 1 book chapter, and 1 festival of ideas exhibition by Ruth Kelly (UoY) and Emilie Flower (UoY/ Pica Studios) 5) 3 collaborative films from teams that met as a result of the research, A Landscape Happening, and Political Imagination: Art and Activism Research Workshops and Communion. *See artistic products for artistic collaborations |
| Impact | Detailed above |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Development Alternatives |
| Organisation | Christian Aid |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The research team facilitated the workshops and the production of artistic and academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Arts based research workshop team in Uganda to produce a collaborative future scenario - Poetry Scenario with Helen Okiring, Scovia Arinaitwe, Phil Wilmot, Norman Tmuhimbise, Chimey Buka, Alex Atwemereireho, Fred Kawooya, recorded in 2 films of the collaboration. 2) Arts based research workshop team in Bangladesh to produce a collaborative future scenario - Theatre Scenario with Sisir Dutta, Alauddin Ali Kazi, Ribon Khandokar, Luna Noor, Shohrab Jahan. 3) UK National Practitioners Reflection Workshop organised in collaboration by Ruth Kelly (UoY), Kate Newman (ChristianAid) and Kate Carroll (Action Aid). 4) 2 conference papers, 1 working paper, 1 book chapter, and 1 festival of ideas exhibition by Ruth Kelly (UoY) and Emilie Flower (UoY/ Pica Studios) 5) 3 collaborative films from teams that met as a result of the research, A Landscape Happening, and Political Imagination: Art and Activism Research Workshops and Communion. *See artistic products for artistic collaborations |
| Impact | Detailed above |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Development Alternatives |
| Organisation | Global Platforms |
| Department | ActionAid Bangladesh |
| Country | Denmark |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The research team facilitated the workshops and the production of artistic and academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Arts based research workshop team in Uganda to produce a collaborative future scenario - Poetry Scenario with Helen Okiring, Scovia Arinaitwe, Phil Wilmot, Norman Tmuhimbise, Chimey Buka, Alex Atwemereireho, Fred Kawooya, recorded in 2 films of the collaboration. 2) Arts based research workshop team in Bangladesh to produce a collaborative future scenario - Theatre Scenario with Sisir Dutta, Alauddin Ali Kazi, Ribon Khandokar, Luna Noor, Shohrab Jahan. 3) UK National Practitioners Reflection Workshop organised in collaboration by Ruth Kelly (UoY), Kate Newman (ChristianAid) and Kate Carroll (Action Aid). 4) 2 conference papers, 1 working paper, 1 book chapter, and 1 festival of ideas exhibition by Ruth Kelly (UoY) and Emilie Flower (UoY/ Pica Studios) 5) 3 collaborative films from teams that met as a result of the research, A Landscape Happening, and Political Imagination: Art and Activism Research Workshops and Communion. *See artistic products for artistic collaborations |
| Impact | Detailed above |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Development Alternatives |
| Organisation | Jahangirnagar University |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The research team facilitated the workshops and the production of artistic and academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Arts based research workshop team in Uganda to produce a collaborative future scenario - Poetry Scenario with Helen Okiring, Scovia Arinaitwe, Phil Wilmot, Norman Tmuhimbise, Chimey Buka, Alex Atwemereireho, Fred Kawooya, recorded in 2 films of the collaboration. 2) Arts based research workshop team in Bangladesh to produce a collaborative future scenario - Theatre Scenario with Sisir Dutta, Alauddin Ali Kazi, Ribon Khandokar, Luna Noor, Shohrab Jahan. 3) UK National Practitioners Reflection Workshop organised in collaboration by Ruth Kelly (UoY), Kate Newman (ChristianAid) and Kate Carroll (Action Aid). 4) 2 conference papers, 1 working paper, 1 book chapter, and 1 festival of ideas exhibition by Ruth Kelly (UoY) and Emilie Flower (UoY/ Pica Studios) 5) 3 collaborative films from teams that met as a result of the research, A Landscape Happening, and Political Imagination: Art and Activism Research Workshops and Communion. *See artistic products for artistic collaborations |
| Impact | Detailed above |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Development Alternatives |
| Organisation | Makerere University |
| Country | Uganda |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The research team facilitated the workshops and the production of artistic and academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Arts based research workshop team in Uganda to produce a collaborative future scenario - Poetry Scenario with Helen Okiring, Scovia Arinaitwe, Phil Wilmot, Norman Tmuhimbise, Chimey Buka, Alex Atwemereireho, Fred Kawooya, recorded in 2 films of the collaboration. 2) Arts based research workshop team in Bangladesh to produce a collaborative future scenario - Theatre Scenario with Sisir Dutta, Alauddin Ali Kazi, Ribon Khandokar, Luna Noor, Shohrab Jahan. 3) UK National Practitioners Reflection Workshop organised in collaboration by Ruth Kelly (UoY), Kate Newman (ChristianAid) and Kate Carroll (Action Aid). 4) 2 conference papers, 1 working paper, 1 book chapter, and 1 festival of ideas exhibition by Ruth Kelly (UoY) and Emilie Flower (UoY/ Pica Studios) 5) 3 collaborative films from teams that met as a result of the research, A Landscape Happening, and Political Imagination: Art and Activism Research Workshops and Communion. *See artistic products for artistic collaborations |
| Impact | Detailed above |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Development Alternatives |
| Organisation | Makerere University |
| Country | Uganda |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The research team facilitated the workshops and the production of artistic and academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Arts based research workshop team in Uganda to produce a collaborative future scenario - Poetry Scenario with Helen Okiring, Scovia Arinaitwe, Phil Wilmot, Norman Tmuhimbise, Chimey Buka, Alex Atwemereireho, Fred Kawooya, recorded in 2 films of the collaboration. 2) Arts based research workshop team in Bangladesh to produce a collaborative future scenario - Theatre Scenario with Sisir Dutta, Alauddin Ali Kazi, Ribon Khandokar, Luna Noor, Shohrab Jahan. 3) UK National Practitioners Reflection Workshop organised in collaboration by Ruth Kelly (UoY), Kate Newman (ChristianAid) and Kate Carroll (Action Aid). 4) 2 conference papers, 1 working paper, 1 book chapter, and 1 festival of ideas exhibition by Ruth Kelly (UoY) and Emilie Flower (UoY/ Pica Studios) 5) 3 collaborative films from teams that met as a result of the research, A Landscape Happening, and Political Imagination: Art and Activism Research Workshops and Communion. *See artistic products for artistic collaborations |
| Impact | Detailed above |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Development Alternatives |
| Organisation | PICA Studios |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The research team facilitated the workshops and the production of artistic and academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Arts based research workshop team in Uganda to produce a collaborative future scenario - Poetry Scenario with Helen Okiring, Scovia Arinaitwe, Phil Wilmot, Norman Tmuhimbise, Chimey Buka, Alex Atwemereireho, Fred Kawooya, recorded in 2 films of the collaboration. 2) Arts based research workshop team in Bangladesh to produce a collaborative future scenario - Theatre Scenario with Sisir Dutta, Alauddin Ali Kazi, Ribon Khandokar, Luna Noor, Shohrab Jahan. 3) UK National Practitioners Reflection Workshop organised in collaboration by Ruth Kelly (UoY), Kate Newman (ChristianAid) and Kate Carroll (Action Aid). 4) 2 conference papers, 1 working paper, 1 book chapter, and 1 festival of ideas exhibition by Ruth Kelly (UoY) and Emilie Flower (UoY/ Pica Studios) 5) 3 collaborative films from teams that met as a result of the research, A Landscape Happening, and Political Imagination: Art and Activism Research Workshops and Communion. *See artistic products for artistic collaborations |
| Impact | Detailed above |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Development Alternatives |
| Organisation | University of Chittagong |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The research team facilitated the workshops and the production of artistic and academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Arts based research workshop team in Uganda to produce a collaborative future scenario - Poetry Scenario with Helen Okiring, Scovia Arinaitwe, Phil Wilmot, Norman Tmuhimbise, Chimey Buka, Alex Atwemereireho, Fred Kawooya, recorded in 2 films of the collaboration. 2) Arts based research workshop team in Bangladesh to produce a collaborative future scenario - Theatre Scenario with Sisir Dutta, Alauddin Ali Kazi, Ribon Khandokar, Luna Noor, Shohrab Jahan. 3) UK National Practitioners Reflection Workshop organised in collaboration by Ruth Kelly (UoY), Kate Newman (ChristianAid) and Kate Carroll (Action Aid). 4) 2 conference papers, 1 working paper, 1 book chapter, and 1 festival of ideas exhibition by Ruth Kelly (UoY) and Emilie Flower (UoY/ Pica Studios) 5) 3 collaborative films from teams that met as a result of the research, A Landscape Happening, and Political Imagination: Art and Activism Research Workshops and Communion. *See artistic products for artistic collaborations |
| Impact | Detailed above |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Development Alternatives |
| Organisation | University of Dhaka |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The research team facilitated the workshops and the production of artistic and academic outputs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1) Arts based research workshop team in Uganda to produce a collaborative future scenario - Poetry Scenario with Helen Okiring, Scovia Arinaitwe, Phil Wilmot, Norman Tmuhimbise, Chimey Buka, Alex Atwemereireho, Fred Kawooya, recorded in 2 films of the collaboration. 2) Arts based research workshop team in Bangladesh to produce a collaborative future scenario - Theatre Scenario with Sisir Dutta, Alauddin Ali Kazi, Ribon Khandokar, Luna Noor, Shohrab Jahan. 3) UK National Practitioners Reflection Workshop organised in collaboration by Ruth Kelly (UoY), Kate Newman (ChristianAid) and Kate Carroll (Action Aid). 4) 2 conference papers, 1 working paper, 1 book chapter, and 1 festival of ideas exhibition by Ruth Kelly (UoY) and Emilie Flower (UoY/ Pica Studios) 5) 3 collaborative films from teams that met as a result of the research, A Landscape Happening, and Political Imagination: Art and Activism Research Workshops and Communion. *See artistic products for artistic collaborations |
| Impact | Detailed above |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Pushing Back: Supporting Organisations and Movements in Contexts of Shrinking Civic and Democratic Space |
| Organisation | ActionAid |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | This project seeks to identify concrete ways of pushing back against shrinking civil and democratic space. This is a global phenomenon, which has dramatically affected the work of development and environmental activists in many parts of the world. This impact project builds on an ongoing collaboration between the Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York, and ActionAid on development alternatives (AHRC/GCRF network grant, ESRC Collaborative PhD studentship). It aims to collect examples of best practice and innovation in 9 case study countries on the experiences and impact of activists, organisations and social movements that are pushing back to promote and protect human rights in contexts of shrinking civic space with/or through the support of ActionAid. Outputs will include a report with a set of recommendations, and a variety of more accessible outputs for advocacy and outreach (videos, photographs/photo journeys, testimonies/stories etc.). |
| Collaborator Contribution | ActionAid provided access to its international staff, assisted in managing the project, and co-produced a range of outputs. |
| Impact | A) Audio visual case studies. In collaboration with Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR), University of York, ActionAid supported development of audio visual case studies capturing ActionAid's work in support of human rights defenders (HRDs)/social movements promoting and protecting human rights in contexts of shrinking civic and democratic space in 9 countries- Bangladesh, France, Guatemala, Kenya, South Africa, Spain, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The case studies have been completed and uploaded on the ActionAid website. The case studies will facilitate internal exchange and learning and will also be used to support advocacy for the protection of HRDs and expansion of civic space at national, regional and international levels. The case studies were published on the AAI website as: Celebrating the Power of Human Rights Defenders Pushing Back in Contexts of Shrinking Civic Space: Cover Note: - https://actionaid.org/stories/2019/celebrating-power-human-rights-defenders; Bangladesh: https://actionaid.org/stories/2019/people-matarbari-island-make-themselves-be-counted; France/Denmark: https://actionaid.org/stories/2019/slapp-face-accountability; Kenya https://actionaid.org/stories/2019/conservation-or-land-grabbing-case-mbulia-group-ranch; Guatemala: https://actionaid.org/stories/2019/criminalisation-confronted South Africa: https://actionaid.org/stories/2019/rainbow-activists; Spain: https://actionaid.org/stories/2019/migrant-womens-resilience-spain Zambia https://actionaid.org/stories/2019/42for42-fire-trucks-protest; Zimbabwe: https://actionaid.org/stories/2019/threat-community-vhimba; Uganda: https://actionaid.org/stories/2019/never-give-struggle-birthright. B) Workshop. As a follow-up to the case studies mentioned above, representatives of human rights defenders' organisations and social movements from the 9 countries involved in generating case studies, came together in a workshop in Arusha, Tanzania, July 2019 co-convened by ActionAid and CAHR, University of York, UK to: review the case studies, and resolve some of the challenges of generating, using and sharing knowledge across borders; reflect on some of the cross cutting political contexts and challenges they work within and share useful political analysis instruments for understanding this context; curate a collaborative and accessible visual output (a Zine) for sharing strategies, facilitated by a visual artist, record a short documentary tying together the 9 case studies and; build community and solidarity between human rights activists by providing a space for creative reflection. C) Working Paper. From interviews conducted during this workshop, CAHR has published Working Paper: Pushing Back: Supporting Human Rights Defenders and Social Movements in Contexts of Shrinking Civic and Democratic Space. Emilie Flower December 2019. The paper highlights viable development alternatives that expand civic space through the analysis of interviews with in-situ civic space specialists, Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), and empirical, evidence-based case studies of civil society resistance and resilience noted above. The paper also discusses: the broader spaces HRDs work within to open civic space; recognising historical scripts and surfacing alternatives, translating and updating the law, remaining engaged with challenging power, showing geographical dexterity and; counteracting the impact on the poor of particular forms of political economy. The paper is accessible on this link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58a1a2bb9f745664e6b41612/t/5e205314f8c3503a17300fe2/1579176732545/flower_civicspace_WP8_201008+%28002%29.pdf. D) Dissemination Workshop in London. ActionAid and CAHR brought together academics and a variety of INGOs in January 2020 to: Share the learning and knowledge emerging from the Pushing Back project; Build a network of organisations interested in issues connected to ActionAid's and York's work on HRD and Pushing Back on civic space, deepening the perspectives shared; Understand what organisations can do better to support themselves, HRDs and movements to push back against shrinking civic space; Understand the appetite for and deepen an understanding of research questions which have emerged for which we can seek funding. Following the workshop, we agreed: Research collaboration: to follow up on potential research discussed questions and revisit this when a funding bid arises; Strategies: to share any toolkits and methodologies around with the group via email to avoid replication and to add value to existing capacity work; Potential shared work: to explore potential joint work such as: documenting case studies; linking artists and activists in ongoing work and sharing approaches for how this will happen and collaborating to seek advice on / access to legal support for activists; Ongoing relationships: coordination and linkages will be followed up between individuals. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | 2 creative alternatives workshops using participatory arts based methodology and group ethnography with 7 artists and activists in Uganda and Bangladesh, June/July 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Workshop to stimulate ideas on development alternatives |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | 2 x two week residencies from conceptual artist Shohrab Jahan and writer Patience Nitumwesiga at Pica Studios; culminating in a screening about the creative alternatives work at Pica Studios followed by a discussion wth an audience of 60 people. Films screened were Emilie Flower and Ruth Kelly's introductory film, Shohrab Jahan's, A Landscape Happening and the premiere of Patience Nitumwesiga's, Communion. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Public engagement on the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbMLV63wP5YNxOlZBHzf-FRMzVF8Ug5bz |
| Description | 3 exhibitions of the work in the UK: 1) An exhibition with a process film of the Body Maps from Chittagong, alongside a talk and a 360 screening of the film Landscape Happening, an introduction to the Creative Alternatives Workshops and the Ugandan Poetry Scenario at the Festival of Ideas; 2) Creative alternatives display in the exhibition 'Art and Activism' at the Kings Manor in central York, January 2018, a new sound piece inspired by the creative alternatives work, Pods, by Rebecca Carr, Lyn |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Exhibitions served as outreach activities to communicate insights from the project to wider audiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | 3 national reflection workshops supported by advisory group meetings with film screenings for reflexive engagement, UK, London, Jan 2018; Makerere University, Uganda, Kampala, Feb 2018; University of Dhaka and University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, March 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Reflection workshops to assess insights from earlier creative alternatives workshops, and plan future activities / funding applications. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | 7 films to introduce the research and artistic collaborations: An introduction to the research; An introduction to the workshops; A Landscape Happening; Susan Kiguli's recital of 'Reaching within us to beyond us'; Film of the production of 'Letter to a child never born'; Communion; Collaborative scenario, Bangladesh; Collaborative scenario, Uganda |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Films were produced as a way of capturing the workshop process, and initial ideas about development alternatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbMLV63wP5YNxOlZBHzf-FRMzVF8Ug5bz |
| Description | National Practitioners Reflection Workshop, Pushing Back Project |
| 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 | National Practitioners Reflection Workshop organised in collaboration with Emilie Flower (UoY), Kate Carroll (AAI) and Mary Wandia (AAI) supported by advisory group for reflexive engagement, UK, London, Jan 2020. The aim was to disseminate the findings of the Pushing Back working paper, and explore possibilities for future collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |