This module gives a contextual overview of participatory artwork with diverse communities through the exploration of a range of concepts, case studies and practical experiences. It aims to give an overview of the development of the theoretical and methodological framework for Community Arts while giving practical experience of participative arts techniques both through examining case studies and through practical workshops. The module also gives students the opportunity to study the application of participative approaches to project planning and project implementation and evaluation. The module begins with a short introduction to the history of community arts. It moves on to consider the interrelationship of community, artist and issues through the study of local examples and a participatory arts workshop. The final section of the module leads to a consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of a variety of participative approaches to project planning, implementation and evaluation. The final section of the module assesses the impact and legacy of community arts approaches to the development of cultural and regeneration strategies.

Fegan, T. (2003) Learning and Community Arts. Leicester: NIACE.
Kelley, O. (1983) Community Arts and the State: Storming The Citadel, London: Comedia.
Webster, M., ed. (1997) Finding Voices, Making Choices, Nottingham: Educational Heretics Press.

Internet, where you will find relevant web-sites.
Library, where you will find relevant textbooks, journals, and audio-visual materials.

This module incorporates three inter-related learning strategies. The three daylong workshops will be used for the consideration of core issues and key skills relating to Community Arts. The tutorials will allow discussion of the individual critical research students are undertaking to prepare their reports, and support for any study skills needs the tutor and students identify. The independent study will allow reading around selected topics, the development of individual critical responses to the reading and the preparation for the work-based portfolio.

The case study [2,500 words] will require you to demonstrate the reading of relevant texts and reflectively analyse a case study in order to evaluate a community arts project. The case study will assess [Learning Outcomes 1-4].