My evaluation work and thinking
This page includes a selection of evaluation projects that I have worked on and my ongoing research around creative and co-created evaluation methods working with artists, researchers, young people and community groups.
LIBERATING 'THE FRUSTRATED EVALUATOR'
Dr Maia Mackney and I co-wrote Liberating the 'frustrated evaluator' as part of the newly published DISRUPT Toolkit. The chapter talks about co-created and creative evaluation featuring reflections and methodologies by Sophie Hope, Henry Mulhall, Sarah Cassidy/The Old Fire Station Oxford and Chris Rolls. Read it here.
The DISRUPT Toolkit is a new resource for artists and organisations working with communities. It's a collaboration project by Guildhall School of Music & Drama with Barbican Centre, Royal Exchange Theatre, Slung Low, Jumped Up Theatre and Headway East London.
Illustration by Matt Munday.
10 YEARS OF ARTIST SUPPORT AT SPACE
In 2022 I was tasked to carry out a survey of the different artists support initiatives that have been running at SPACE since 2012. These include creative business development programmes, bursaries and awards, residencies, commissions, events and talks.
The report features case studies of artists and the impact that these initiatives have had on their career trajectories and development as well as on their livelihoods. Full report available here.
Graphics and illustrations by Marie Lavis.
SPACE ARTIST AWARDS
In 2021 I carried out the evaluation of SPACE Artist Awards. As part of this work, I devised a Theory of Change for the programme and a range of evaluation methods. The evaluation report can be found here.
SPACE Artist Awards was launched in the context of Covid-19 in November 2020 with the aim of helping talented under-represented visual artists and those suffering from extreme financial hardship, to invest in their future at this challenging time. It offered £5k bursaries, free studio space, mentoring and a month-long residency.
The programme was funded by Arts Council England Cultural Recovery Fund.
URBAN VOICES
Since 2021 I have been the external evaluator of Urban Voices, an ongoing creative programme led by SPACE working with 14-16 year olds in Pupil Referral Unit schools in London. For this work I have been deploying a range of evaluation methods, including traditional qualitative and quantitative and creative ones. For more info please get in touch.
Through creative activities Urban Voices aims to provide young people with a platform and tools to explore thoughts and feelings, gain new skills and develop their confidence and self-esteem.
The programme is currently funded by BBC Children in Need and Action for Bow.