Developing a Foundation for Quality Guidance for arts organisations and artists in Scotland working in participatory settings: a report commissioned by Creative Scotland
This study has been commissioned to provide a foundation for a quality framework for the participatory arts in Scotland, rationalising, synthesising and condensing learning from the body of knowledge extant in the fields of arts, culture and education (and emerging from the Artworks programme), which can inform the development of a guidance toolkit at a later stage. There is currently no commonly used reference point for quality in participatory settings, to aid staff within Creative Scotland and the sector for funding this work or planning organisational developments. Once this is developed it will feed into a new framework and guidance on Quality for the arts in Scotland, based on solid foundations of knowledge and best practice.
Creative Scotland's focus on quality in participatory arts settings represents a significant development. Participatory arts are becoming more prevalent and subject to greater demand (Kay 2012), which is evidenced by recent reporting by the Institute for Research in the Social Science (IRISS) that social care employers are reliant on commissioning artists to deliver activities with people who use services (Pattoni 2013).
A number of investigations have found gaps in recognition and support for participatory arts and a lack of a framework for strengthening practice and capturing outcomes (Schwarz 2014, Lowe 2011, Siedel et al 2010, Lord et al 2012). Creative Scotland is in a unique position to facilitate developments in this sector in the interests of managing quality in its funded activities. Through its development of a new quality framework for participatory arts, Creative Scotland can lead the way in a new, informed understanding of quality and how best to foster it.http://artworks.cymru/developing-a-foundation-for-quality-guidance-rachel-blanchediv_MCaPApub4762pu
