Impacts For many artists in this evaluation, the funding Impacts of the Fund in the recovery enabled them to use a medium that process encouraged expression through music, drama, This evaluation has found that arts projects visual art, textiles, performance art, literature, contribute something different to community poetry or multi media. rebuilding compared to other types of projects. For those who had not been directly affected The arts provide children and adults with by the fires, the grant gave them the power opportunities to symbolise, recount and and opportunity to do something to help their process their traumatic experience. Similarly to community by using their skills and talents other activities such as sports, gardening or through arts-based projects. This, in turn, was other community activities, the arts gives seen to help to galvanise and heal those participants a temporary respite from their communities, even indirectly through daily challenges. However, what makes an art performance as a means of gathering people project unique is the abstract nature of the together for a show. activities and the opportunity for individuals to Impacts of the Project Officer in the interpret and assign their own personal recovery process meaning or memories to the activity. The arts The activities of the Project Officer have does not rely entirely on verbal demonstrated that working on the ground with communication. This is a particularly important benefit when dealing with communities that individuals and communities makes a have experienced trauma, as many people do valuable contribution to their recovery. not have the words to describe how they are Facilitating creative expression and feeling. consequent social connection has helped these communities to respond to unexpected change in creative ways. The individual attention the Project Officer has Trauma makes you wordless. to artists, their families and communities recipient, Eltham has helped people feel less alone. Because she was not working directly as a government representative the Project Officer was perceived as independent, which was an Sport takes you away for a important aspect to having been so well period of time but art creates a received. mindset of creativity that can All grant recipients interviewed in the be taken back to everyday Murrindindi Shire for this evaluation felt that situations. the work of the Project Officer was crucial to Bruce Esplin, Emergency Services Commissioner the success of their project.
Impacts Impacts of the Fund in the recovery process This evaluation has found that arts projects contribute something different to community rebuilding compared to other types of projects. The arts provide children and adults with opportunities to symbolise, recount and process their traumatic experience. Similarly to other activities such as sports, gardening or other community activities, the arts gives participants a temporary respite from their daily challenges. However, what makes an art project unique is the abstract nature of the activities and the opportunity for individuals to interpret and assign their own personal meaning or memories to the activity. The arts does not rely entirely on verbal communication. This is a particularly important benefit when dealing with communities that have experienced trauma, as many people do not have the words to describe how they are feeling. Trauma makes you wordless. recipient, Eltham Sport takes you away for a period of time but art creates a mindset of creativity that can be taken back to everyday situations. Bruce Esplin, Emergency Services Commissioner For many artists in this evaluation, the funding enabled them to use a medium that encouraged expression through music, drama, visual art, textiles, performance art, literature, poetry or multi media. For those who had not been directly affected by the fires, the grant gave them the power and opportunity to do something to help their community by using their skills and talents through arts-based projects. This, in turn, was seen to help to galvanise and heal those communities, even indirectly through performance as a means of gathering people together for a show. Impacts of the Project Officer in the recovery process The activities of the Project Officer have demonstrated that working on the ground with individuals and communities makes a valuable contribution to their recovery. Facilitating creative expression and consequent social connection has helped these communities to respond to unexpected change in creative ways. The individual attention the Project Officer has to artists, their families and communities has helped people feel less alone. Because she was not working directly as a government representative the Project Officer was perceived as independent, which was an important aspect to having been so well received. All grant recipients interviewed in the Murrindindi Shire for this evaluation felt that the work of the Project Officer was crucial to the success of their project.
The_role_of_arts_in_rebuilding_community_-_Final_Report.docx