Research in Residence: Arts' Civic Impact
Mass Culture, in partnership with Canada Council for the Arts, the Culture Statistics Working Group, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Toronto Arts Foundation, is conducting research to understand the civic impact of the arts.
Research goal
This research will explore the impact of the arts on communities and society at large in the following key areas:
- Indigenous Cultural Knowledge
- Climate and Sustainability
- Health and Wellbeing
- Diversity and Inclusion
Methods
Mentored by faculty from post-secondary institutions, six early-career researchers will work with Canadian arts organizations and festivals to develop and test practical tools and approaches for the arts sector to better articulate its impact in communities.
Outcomes
This project will result in qualitative impact frameworks that will enhance the capacity of the Canadian arts sector to develop evidence-based approaches and build a future in which the arts sector in Canada can thrive.
The following resources are now available:
- A report by the resident researchers detailing the processes used;
- An evaluation report and interactive reading room by Jamie Gamble, Khiem Hoang and Mass Culture;
- A personal reflection on developmental evaluation by Khiem Hoang.
For the next phase of this project, Mass Culture will work with the arts community to explore the practical application of the researchers’ civic impact frameworks; release the frameworks; and make more evaluation materials available.
Research Team
The initiative engages researchers from McGill University, Emily Carr University’s Aboriginal Gathering Place, University of Winnipeg, Dalhousie University, and Carleton University.
The researchers and their areas of focus are:
- Sydney Pickering, Indigenous Cultural Knowledge
- Emma Bugg, Climate and Sustainability
- Aaron Richmond, Health and Wellbeing
- Shanice Bernicky, Diversity and Inclusion
- Audree Espada and Missy LeBlanc, Diversity and Inclusion
Questions?
Please contact Mass Culture at: info@massculture.ca