ArtBridges’ Intended Impact and Theory of Change

Intended Impact Statement:

By 2020, as a result of our work, community-engaged arts initiatives* will have greater connections, knowledge and inspiration and the community arts and arts for social change field will be more connected and have a higher profile.

Our belief is that ultimately, through the impact of our work, there will be more opportunities and access for Canadians in under-served and under-resourced communities to engage and participate in arts within their communities, and that people and communities will be healthier and more resilient because of it!

*and anyone interested in, involved with or committed to community-engaged arts and arts for social change in Canada.

ArtBridges: Theory of Change

ArtBridges will reach its intended impact through these main activities.

We will:

• raise awareness
• make connections
• gather resources
• share resources
• highlight what’s going on

Our Logic – unpacked

Intended Impact

If ArtBridges raises awareness, makes connections, gathers resources, shares resources and highlights what’s going on with community-engaged arts and arts for social change initiatives (as well as people interested in, involved with and committed to community-engaged arts and arts for social change) in Canada, the direct results (our intended impact) will be greater connections, knowledge and inspiration for these initiatives and the community arts and arts for social change field will be more connected and having a higher profile.

Intermediate Impact

Because the field will have a higher profile and people in the field more connected, there will be more awareness about the benefits of community-engaged arts and the role of arts in community development and community health and resilience.

This will attract more people as well as provisions and exchanges of resources (supplies, materials and space) to the field as well as additional funding supports and resources from government, individuals, foundations and businesses.

More people engaged in the work and more resources supporting the work means more community-engaged arts initiatives being started and sustained as well as more promising practices, principles and standards.

Ultimate Impact

More opportunities and access for Canadians to engage and participate in arts within their communities and
communities in Canada are healthier and more resilient!

Glossary:

What we do:
raise awareness =

• Inform and educate the general public about community-engaged arts and arts for social change.
• Raise awareness about what’s going on in the field across Canada (e.g., advancements in the practice, new projects, multisectoral involvement, professional development, studies, opportunities, and more).
• Invite students and professors to share their work on ArtBridges’ Learning & Resources Portal; (academic research about community-engaged arts and arts for social change, so that the hub is enriched with Canadian-focused academic content and people have the opportunity to learn more.
• Advocate and stand-up for community-engaged arts initiatives in Canada. Be at the table and join the discussions. Boldly tell and share the stories. Give voice to the power of arts in community-building and community health and resilience. Be a changemaker.
• Make the case through gathering and sharing of research, evaluation reports, project documentation and case-studies that demonstrate how community-engaged arts makes a difference. Validate the benefits of community-engaged arts and its impact on community health and resilience.
• Connect the dots, synthesize and share information.

make connections =

• Facilitate connections, discussions and mentorships. Set up telephone or video conferences, facilitate mentor circles and working groups.
• Reach out and ask our community partners what supports or resources they might need—as well as what they could possibly provide or share with another community-engaged arts initiative (e.g., studio space, mentorship, curriculum ideas, how-to resources).
• Connect people who ask for help or mentorship with those who may have expertise, support or resources to share.
• Connect people to community-engaged arts and arts for social change initiatives. Bring people together within the field or to the field.
• Visit and meet people working and participating in the field. Connect in-person, not just online.
• Connect and engage policy-makers, funders, decision-makers and people from other sectors with this field.

gather resources =

• Seek out information, expertise, resources and opportunities from community-engaged arts initiatives, and those connected to the field in Canada.
• Identify and gather resources, including toolkits, fundraising tips, policy manuals, templates, reflections, stories, photos, videos, best practices, upcoming educational and professional development opportunities, HR opportunities, awards, scholarships, and more.
• Actively build an archive and index of information resources related to community-engaged arts in Canada.

share resources =

• Be a catalyst. Facilitate knowledge mobilization to enhance capacity in the field, avoid duplication, and accelerate the work.
• Support and facilitate the sharing of information and expertise from those who have expertise, material or resources to those who need expertise, material or resources.
• Maintain an accessible collection of free or affordable information resources for community-engaged arts and arts for social change in Canada. Regularly update the collection to maintain the relevancy and currency of information.
• Provide a listing about free, affordable and accessible community-engaged arts projects, programs, organizations and resources in Canada.

highlight what’s going on=

• Highlight, illuminate and showcase current activities and new developments in community-engaged arts and arts for social change in Canada, recognizing specific Canadian contexts (First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Francophone, multicultural, new Canadians, urban, rural, North, etc.).
• Feature stories, news, information, opportunities and resources on the ArtBridges hub. Highlight and promote work, opportunities and resources that are relevant, current, interesting and useful.
• Provide a forum, through the ArtBridges’ hub, for people working, connected, or involved in the field to be seen and heard.

Who we serve: 

80% of the core ArtBridges community are community-engaged arts and arts for social change initiatives across Canada. About 20% are those in Canada interested in, involved with or committed to community-engaged arts and arts for social change.

The ArtBridges community consists of diverse communities of all sizes, geographic locations, and interests across Canada.  A key focus is communities that are under-resourced or under-served.

What we aim to achieve (outcomes):

connections =

People interested in, involved with or committed to community-engaged arts and arts for social change in Canada will have more connections to one another. This will open doors to collaborations, sharing of information, ideas, promising practices and resources.

knowledge =

People interested in, involved with or committed to community-engaged arts and arts for social change in Canada will have more knowledge about diverse project and organizational delivery models, promising practices, lessons learned, standards, ethics, principles, great ideas, resources, educational and professional development opportunities, advancements in the practice, new projects, cross-sector and multi-sector involvement, news, stories, trends and resources related to community-engaged arts and arts for social change in Canada.

Inspiration =

• People will be inspired to get involved in community-engaged arts—to participate, find employment, volunteer, donate resources, start up a project in their own community, and more!
• People connected to, involved with and working in the field will be inspired by stories and accounts from others working in communities: starting up and sustaining a project/program/organization, project delivery, issues and challenges that arise, successes and lessons learned; promising practices and practical tips, ethics, principles & standards; outcomes & impact, and more!
• People from other sectors (e.g.: health, education, justice, etc…) working in community development will have a greater understanding about the role that arts and artists play in community development and social change, leading to greater involvement and inclusion of arts in community development.
• People will be inspired and invigorated when they learn about the collective impact of community-engaged arts initiatives across Canada and about how the work contributes to healthier and more resilient communities.

the community arts and arts for social change field is more connected and has a higher profile =

• Community-engaged arts and arts for social change initiatives across Canada will be more connected and cohesive, and the field & practice will develop and expand.
• More people in Canada will know about community-engaged arts and arts for social change.
• They will know about the positive impact of this work in communities and how arts engagement can play a key role in community development, community health and community resilience.
• People in Canada includes policy-makers, funders & donors, educators & students, capacity-builders, neighboring sectors such as health, justice, immigration, employment, volunteer, business, etc., and the general public at large.
• People involved with, or working in the field, will learn that they are not isolated and that their work has value and is part of a bigger picture. This is a growing field and movement in Canada, and our collective work contributes to positive social change in communities across Canada.

Ultimate impact:

More opportunities and access for Canadians to engage and participate in arts within their communities.

Communities in Canada are healthier and more resilient.

Community-engaged arts are making a positive collective impact in communities and contribute to community health and resilience in Canada. Community-engaged art is a vehicle for community development and social change.

The arts bring children, youth, adults and seniors together in community spaces that combine education, life-skills, economic development and leadership. Benefits to people and communities include crime reduction, safer neighbourhoods, improved mental and physical health, greater success in education and employment, alleviation of poverty, culture, community engagement and neighbourhood revitalization.