OECD Culture and Local Development.pdf - PACA

1. USING A TERRITORY’S CULTURE TO PROMOTE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
surroundings into their own, friendlier version. This positive role of the arts can
also be seen among people with mental illnesses. Painting and writing help some
people to regain control over their own, internal lives, if only by giving vent to
certain subjective aspects (Jensen, 1997). Similarly, theatre is often cited as an
effective therapy for people with deficits in communication (Snow et al, 2003).
- Another possible role of culture is in the correctional system, and particularly
in crime prevention, as demonstrated by the programme supported by the Arts
Council of England (Art Council of England, 2003). The useful studies are few,
however, since only those that involve comparison between target and control
groups can be meaningful. One study in California showed that prisoners who
were exposed to arts programmes were less inclined to become repeat offenders:
69% of those who participated in these programmes avoided further trouble with
the law, compared to only 42% of those who did not take part (Cleveland, 2000).
It seems that programmes that improve language, writing and self-expression
skills are particularly effective.
Can we measure the social effects of culture?
If we are ready to admit, subject to the caveats expressed above, that culture plays
a positive role in the organisation of social relations and the reintegration of excluded
groups within a given territory, we still need to measure that impact. It is one thing
to assert, as the European Commission has done, that culture “raises the level of people’s
thinking, contributes positively to their social and psychological well-being, stimulates
their awareness, and has a civilising impact”, but it is quite another thing to appreciate
the scope of these effects (Council of Europe, 1997).
This is a difficult undertaking, and there has been much debate as to whether it
can be addressed through a general approach, or whether we must resort to case studies.
The problems in conducting such studies are many: we must evaluate qualitative changes
that often take long to materialise; the evaluations may have an important impact and
therefore must be understandable to all stakeholders; the meaning of a nationwide
study may not always be applicable to local conditions. Moriarty and Hill have both
called for one-off studies at the local level, cast in language that will be understandable
for the people being studied (Moriarty and Hill, 2001). Such studies should also
concentrate on tracking and monitoring rather than ex-post evaluation. The challenge
here is not so much to come up with an accurate measurement of effects as it is to
help cultural institutions improve their practices - hence the important distinction
between formative evaluation (during the process) and final evaluation (after the
process). Three methods are available to us.
The first method is called the “multiple approach” (Matarasso, 1997). It starts by
defining several themes: personal development, social cohesion, community
46 CULTURE AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT - ISBN 92-64-00990-6 - © OECD 2005