The cultural policy value of building social connection for new arrivals and why arts work evaluations should reflect that value

ABSTRACT

Increasing movement of migrants and refugees around the world present complex social issues for countries experiencing large migrant intakes. Support for recent arrivals needs deeper policy consideration, especially as reflected in cultural policy. Anecdotally, we know arts projects have greater success in assisting refugees to build social connections and support settlement than many formal government settlement programs. However, as arts initiatives struggle for adequate funding, evaluation’s quantitative bias means that administrators face a conundrum about how to demonstrate evidence which values their work. Qualitative outcomes of supporting cultural expression, building trust, social connections and relationships are difficult to evidence, yet these make arts initiatives successful in supporting new arrivals. This paper discusses the context of that conundrum, explores the possibilities afforded by valuing social connection more highly and the consequences of such an approach. We argue that what is valued and how it is demonstrated need to be radically reconsidered.

KEYWORDS:

• Values
• evaluation
• social connection
• power
• arts policy
• new arrivals

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of South Australia [Internal URIPA grant].

Notes on contributors

Angelique Edmonds

Angelique Edmonds has a passion for design, social sustainability and public engagement. Trained as an Architect, she is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture & Sustainable Design at University of South Australia, and the founder and Creative Director of the School for Creating Change. Her recent (2020) book Connecting People, Place & Design draws upon fifteen years of her practice and research regarding human relationships to place, our capacities to connect with one another and place, and the extent to which contemporary public design mechanisms allow diverse and inclusive public participation. Her professional practice experience and research spans diverse groups/locations, among them- a remote Indigenous community in North Australia, undertaking government consultancy, leading public urban engagement on a Nationally funded pilot scheme, leading advocacy projects promoting Child and Youth Friendly Cities, health-related design advocacy projects with CALD women in Sydney and most recently with NGOs supporting refugee settlement in Australia. For the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Architects, she co-authored policy on Social Sustainability and delivered a National Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminar series on Social Sustainability across 15 cities in Australia & NZ. She has taught in 4 different Australian Universities and studied PhD, M.Phil and degrees in Architecture in Sydney, London and Cambridge UK.

Rosie Roberts

Rosie Roberts is a cultural studies teacher and migration researcher at the University of South Australia. Her research focuses on transnational migration into and out of Australia and the lived experiences of migrants as they seek to develop a sense of belonging and create new homes over time and space. She uses longitudinal research processes, narrative inquiry and participatory visual methods in her work and has recently published her first book, examining the experiences of people who have engaged in staggered and onward migration pathways in order to seek long term living options and security. Rosie is currently undertaking a project exploring arts-based approaches for working with new arrivals to support their resettlement as well as researching issues of cultural diversity and inclusion in the arts. She has secured both university and government funding to support projects across fields of migration, education, social equity and participation.