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Developing a model of arts residency applied to civic engagement

The increase in EU funded projects involving participatory arts demonstrated that there is a growing interest by EU member states in the development of vocational training for artists and cultural practitioners working in community-based participatory settings. However, there is still no universal vehicle for training and most practitioners have to learn ‘on the job’ with no clear model to support their professional development. Residencies enables artists to develop their skills within cultural institutions but there is no accepted working model for extending this concept into community settings. It is very difficult for practitioners developing their practice to access work-based learning and there are few learning materials that adequately support it. RESIDENCY developed an EU-wide model of arts-based residency for the vocational training of participatory artists and community workers working directly with excluded communities. Participatory methods (e.g., UK's Get Talking initiative) were used to identify the specific needs of excluded groups and they were involved in the process of shaping project delivery. RESIDENCY:- acted as a ´live-laboratory´ which enabled participating organisations and communities to experience the benefits of working with a visiting EU participatory artist.- provided an action-learning environment for the artist working with a local community practitioner and local trainee participatory artist, acting as a mentor, collaborator and co-learner. - functioned as an action research project. The Partner University was responsible for managing the overall project and appointed a research team to work with the artist, the community worker and trainee to apply their learning and apply it to the development of a ‘toolkit’ guide.The project was organised by 3 academic institutions experienced in organising educational and vocational training in participatory arts and community work and with long track records of management and participation in international projects. On completion of the project, both Staffordshire University and the University of Barcelona had created accredited courses based upon the project findings. The project team continue to disseminate the results of the project to a wider network of students, academics and VET providers, as well community groups and institutions.Outcomes included a toolkit guide published in each participating country's language and available online. The project and toolkit were launched at an international seminar at the end of the project involving all partner organisations and relevant sector institutions from partner countries. The toolkit which was produced aims to support the participatory arts sector in each country aims to help increase the numbers and quality of projects taking place.
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