Examples of our projects

The Science Gallery Community Engagement Programme focused on working with community organisations and young people aged between 16 and 25 as part of it’s ambition to Create a cultural venue in the heart of London which is driven by the interests and concerns of local young adults (15-25s). AoR were involved in the evaluation of the Co-curated aspects of SGL’s Gender’s exhibition.

The AHRC Cultural Value 'Curating Community?' expert workshop brought together artists, commissioners, researchers, educationalists and practitioners from community development and a range of art practices including community, socially engaged art practice, participatory theatre and participatory arts to reflect on the opportunities and dilemmas facing practitioners working with ‘communities’ experiencing urban regeneration and gentrification. Report available here

AoR was the evaluation advisor for this Heritage Lottery Funded project led by the Department of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths College. It involved creating an accessible archive of a selection of community videos from the 1970 to 1985, made in London and the South East. This rich heritage was under threat of disappearing, both because of the physical deterioration of half-inch reel-to reel-tape, and the ageing memories of the original ‘Community Video’ practitioners. LCVA archives, recovers and revives this history so that it can be used as a resource for contemporary debates, study and activism.

AoR were the evaluation partner to the Hothouse at Deptford Lounge, Hothouse are resident artistic company who co-created a programme of quality events and participatory arts activities with visitors, local artists and resident groups in Deptford. Image Credit Albany Youth Programme

Marj Mayo with Gerald Koessl 'Magna Carta Today', published in March 2015, setting out the evidence on the gaps in legal aid, and related barriers to justice, together with proposals for addressing these. This research builds upon research completed for the book 'Access to Justice for Disadvantaged Communities' co-authored with Gerald Koessl, Imogen Slater and Matthew Scott, published by Policy Press, 2014. Read about the project here

Sue Lelliot worked with Swanley Hidden Histories Project. We assisted in the fundraising, development and coordination of this Heritage Lottery funded cohesion project. Young people researched and reported on the contributions local people, including Gypsy/Travellers and white working class people, made to the area.

This was a socially engaged art project involving an international exchange between European and South African cultural organisations. Two artist residencies offered case studies of collaborative arts and research practice. An evaluative methodology premised on sociological practice allowed the tensions that were inherent in partnership and collaboration to be recognised and productively interrogated. It also allowed us to reimagine what ‘success’ and ‘failure’ looks like in research partnerships by working with the antagonisms that are integral to collaboration. Accessed here

This was a Youth Endowment Fund capacity building and research project. We worked with Chrysalis Care Staff Team, Carers and Young People over a year to explore factors relating to fostering placement stability in order to determine what kinds of targeted support and intervention can enhance positive outcomes and mitigate risk factors.

We worked with the Little Angel Theatre to evaluate their Paul Hamlyn funded Puppet Power project, delivered in primary schools in Islington. We focused on the outcomes for children, teachers, schools and LAT itself. Learning was crux; about the delivery model; what works, why and how; how best to evidence and evaluate the work; and what was of most value to those involved. Drawing together a multiplicity of perspectives and evidence we have offered suggestions about what this learning might mean for LAT and its work and how it might be taken forwards.

Iniva and RSA Academies worked together on a two-year programme of art-making and community engagement arising from RSA Academies’ Commitment to Arts, Culture and Creativity. CAS was designed to develop young people’s sense of identity and explore what it means to be human through co-commissioning new artworks in response to social issues they identify as important. The Project saw the creation of outdoor contemporary art spaces in three RSA schools in the West Midlands. Read more here.

Evaluation of the Museum of London’s Listening To London programme which reaches new volunteers beyond traditional museum visitors and contributes to the Museum of London's ambitions for digital engagement by making content more discoverable online and pursuing partnerships that draw new audiences. This project created new interpretations of the Museum’s extensive oral history collection through involving communities in researching the collection, directly demonstrating the value of community-led models of research in the Museum.

We have worked as evaluation partners on a number of projects with the London Bubble and supported their developing a more cohesive approach to evaluation across the organisation. We have evaluated both the development and delivery of intergenerational shows and their Creative Elders programme. For more information click here: Creative Elders programme.