Mapping Creative Journeys - Action Research Report
Mapping Creative Journeys explored the role of Cultural Education Partnerships (CEPs) in the Royal Borough of Greenwich to develop a deeper understanding of how they could be a bridge between schools and arts organisations, focusing on the needs of schools as a starting point. The project utilised a youth-led, asset-based action research methodology, further outlined in the report.
The project was led by project manager, Pragya Kumar and local artist Shermaine Slocombe, in collaboration with other CEP members in the borough of Greenwich, supported by researcher Dr Meg Peterson. The report outlines this pilot project in detail, followed by key learnings and next steps.
The arts and creative education in the UK are in jeopardy to the extent that many schools are suffering from a ‘creativity crisis’ with art pupils and teachers down by one-fifth in the last ten years due to funding cuts (The Guardian). As funding cuts are imminent, therein lies an opportunity for arts organisations to fill the gap where many schools do not have the ability to deliver arts programming but often there is a disconnect between the educational needs of schools and the cultural offer from arts organisations. A New Direction’s Cultural Education Partnerships (CEPs) are ‘cross-sector, strategic partnerships that work together to unite and improve cultural education for children and young people in their local area’ that aim to bridge this gap though not without challenges along the way (A New Direction). As each of these CEPs made up of arts organisations, councils, artists, and school representatives is responsive to local needs and serves their communities differently, each CEP needs to find the way their role works best for young people in their local area.
