Choral singing as an arts-based organisational intervention: a qualitative study of employees’ experiences

Abstract

Background. There is currently not much in-depth understanding of employee perspectives on the adoption of arts-based organisational interventions. This paper focuses on how one intervention consisting of choral singing in a workplace affected the employees’ sense of well-being and their perceptions of their work environment. Methods. Ten employees were interviewed about their personal experiences after the completion of a choral singing intervention in their organisation. Template analysis was adopted, and the study drew on the findings of a quantitative study of the same intervention. Results. Four themes were identified: (1) barriers for participation in the project; (2) positive experiences and effects; (3) negative experiences and effects; and (4) a sense of emptiness after the project had ended. Conclusions. It was evident that participation in the intervention was experienced positively, but also that a divide emerged between participants and non-participants, something which had negative consequences for both parties.

Keywords:

• Arts-based organisational interventions
• choral singing
• well-being
• the working environment