Bringing diverse expertise together for shared benefits.
We have a long history of working in partnership with organisations from the health, education, community, cultural and private sectors to co-design projects that work.
Tailoring project design to desired outcomes that consider partner’s organisational structure, culture, needs, interests, time constraints, venues, resources and desired modes of communicating has proven very effective in promoting community well-being and creating benefits to organisations.
The Living Room Project
A partnership with Catholic Care, Kickstart Arts helped to create space for their client community; a group of Hazara women. The Hazara are an ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Hazarajat in central Afghanistan.
The aim was to communicate their needs and achieve positive outcomes, and among them a greater level of cultural understanding amongst local government, Centrelink and health services.
This included Hazara women creating their own space – a Living Room – and teaching organisational representatives about their culture, their journey to Australia and how their family relationships operate.
The Freedom Project
A partnership with The Department Of Justice to co-design a program that provides people convicted of drug possession within a Court Mandated Drug Diversion program supportive creative processes led by artists working with Corrections staff that helps them to overcome addiction rather than end up in prison.
This was funded by the Tasmanian Community Fund and will be backed by independent expert evaluation in order to help prove the practice and its positive effects for participants, partners and artists.
The Evidence
There is a large body of evidence that reveals that engaging in cultural and creative activities helps people feel less lonely, results in better physical and mental health, and leads to a happier and healthier old age.
Projects and programs are more relevant and effective if they are actively designed in an adaptive way with participants and partner agencies.
Australian based research commissioned by think tank A New Approach, adds to the growing evidence that arts and culture has major benefits for quality of life:
ArtsHub (AUS)
Website: New report confirms arts' benefits for health, ageing and wellbeing
Public Health Post (USA)
Website: Public Art as Public Health
University of Pennsylvania (USA)
Website: Research Shows How Arts and Culture Improve Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Arts & Humanities Research Council (UK)
PDF: Cultural Value - Music, Empathy and Cultural Understanding
Tasmanian Department of Health (AUS)
PDF: Tasmanian Population Health Survey 2019 - Key Findings
Medical News Today (UK)
Website: What are the health benefits of being creative?
Network Weaving
A few examples of local programs that might suit you.