When the workshop is working: The role of artists in collaborative research with young people and communities

Abstract

Purpose

This paper comes from workshop activities and structured reflection by a group of artists and researchers who have been using artistic practice within research projects aimed at enabling researchers to collaborate with communities. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Three out of four in the group have a practicing creative background and their own studio/workshop space.

Findings

Artists are often employed – whether in schools or research projects – to run workshops; to bring a distinctive set of skills that enable learning or collaboration to take place. In this paper the authors reflect on the different meanings and connotations of “workshop” – as noun (as a place where certain types of activity happen, a bounded space) and a verb (to work something through; to make something together). From there the authors will then draw out the different principles of what artistic practice can offer towards creating a collaborative space for new knowledge to emerge.

Research limitations/implications

Key ideas include different repertories of structuring to enable different forms of social interaction; the role of materal/ality and body in shifting what can be recognised as knowing; and the skills of “thinking on your feet”, being responsive and improvising.

Originality/value

The authors will conclude by reflecting on aspects to consider when developing workshops as part of collaborative research projects.

Citation

Graham, H., Hill, K., Holland, T. and Pool, S. (2015), "When the workshop is working: The role of artists in collaborative research with young people and communities", Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 404-415. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-06-2015-0043