DHA conducted the evaluation for Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s initiative ArtWorks. The initiative supported the education and continuing professional development of artists working in participatory settings. The initiative funded five pathfinder groups around the UK (involving a diverse range of organisations including Creative Scotland, the Barbican Guildhall, Welsh National Opera, People Dancing and the University of Sunderland) and two phases of smaller development grants. Subsequently, it funded a range of legacy activities from across the groups.
We led the evaluation of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s ArtWorks funded activities. We produced a literature review and reported at several key stages (with an interim report, a final report for the original grants, an executive summary, development grants year 1 evaluation and year 2 evaluation, and a legacy evaluation report and executive summary). Over 1,000 artists working in participatory settings took part in a major survey and we conducted a phase of follow-up qualitative research (reports available here and here). We worked in collaboration with the Institute for Cultural Practices at the University of Manchester for some key elements.
PHF has gone on to embed learning from ArtWorks in its own funding practice, and many of the original pathfinder organizations have taken forward their pilot initiatives.