Interviews, Case studies, Project updates Patternmakers Interviews, Case studies, Project updates Patternmakers

The role of evaluation: a Patternmakers internship

As part of her internship with Patternmakers, Bianca Mulet is undertaking a research project into the role of evaluation in the arts and culture sector. Bianca is a UTS student studying a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a major in Social Inquiry (Social and political sciences).

This winter we have hosted our first intern, Bianca Mulet. Bianca is a talented UTS student studying a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a major in Social Inquiry (Social and political sciences). As part of her internship with us she is undertaking a research project into the role of evaluation in the arts and culture sector. 

Her project involves a series of interviews with arts sector leaders, policy makers and researchers. She'll be publishing the results on this website before the end of 2018 (sign up to the newsletter below to make sure you hear about the findings).

The project

Bianca aims to investigate to what extent evaluation is impacting the arts and culture sector, and how it can strengthen the work of an arts organisation. 

Her research will also provide an evaluation of Patternmakers’ work with past clients like the Museum of Contemporary Art, Australian Theatre for Young People and the Australia Council for the Arts.

Background

Data is now regarded as this century’s driving commodity, generating enormous shifts in science, business, economics, media and politics. While data and technological advancements have made us fluent in online shopping, social networking and entertainment, Bianca's interest lies in how data is reshaping the way we access, interact with and make meaning out of art and culture.

Methodology

The primary research method Bianca will employ is one-on-one interviews with arts leaders, researchers and policy makers.

Bianca is exploring the following questions in her interviews:

  • What is the impact of engaging in research, data analysis and evaluation?

  • How has Patternmakers’ process of research and evaluation aided in meeting the outcomes of creative projects?

  • What social, cultural or political issues have arisen from the gathering, interpreting and recording of data? How does this have the potential to inform policy making?

Background research on the topic will inform the interview questions and provide the groundwork for eventual thematic analysis. Bianca will gather secondary data from news outlets, industry publications, blogs and academic dissertations to broaden my understanding of the issue through economic, political, social and/or cultural frameworks. 

Stay tuned

We're excited to be hosting Bianca and supporting her research on this important topic. We look forward to sharing the results of Bianca's research project once complete.

Penny_HexagonProfilePic.png

About the Author

Penny Cannan
Communications and Business Administrator

Penny has a background in Art and Design, Communications, Brand Identity and Project Management.

 
 

Categories

Be in the loop

* indicates required
Subscribe to
Read More
Interviews Patternmakers Interviews Patternmakers

Beyond the Bio: Dr Catherine Davis

The Patternmakers team is expanding - meet Catherine Davis! Join us as we take few moments to go beyond the bio and get to know our team's newest addition. 

The Patternmakers team is expanding - meet Dr Catherine Davis! Join us as we take few moments to go beyond the bio and get to know our team's newest addition. 

What is your role at Patternmakers?  

I’m Patternmakers’ Senior Research Analyst which essentially means I spend most of my time analysing data and turning the findings into meaningful insights!

What does your average day look like?

My days are wonderfully varied. I might spend several hours in the morning analysing qualitative or quantitative data for a program evaluation and then start doing the fieldwork for an audience research project in the afternoon.

What do you love about your job?

Although I’ve only been working at Patternmakers for a month, I love waking up every day knowing that the research we’re conducting can help strengthen the arts and creative industries in Australia, and providing evidence of the importance of the arts in society. 

What is your favourite type of cultural experience and why?

How do I choose just one!? Well, firstly I would say the theatre. My dad is a theatre studies professor, so while most of my childhood friends would be taken to the park after school, my younger sister and I were dragged to watch the latest Shakespearean play. I remember being delighted and enthralled as I watched the characters come to life before my eyes. I also love visiting art galleries. The first time art really moved me was when I went into the Rothko room at the Tate Modern in London and became instantly tearful. As Rothko himself once said: ‘A painting is not a picture of an experience; it is an experience.’ I love how art has the power to transport us through time and space, to challenge us, and to engender change in social, political and cultural issues. 

What are some of your non-work-related goals for the rest of 2018? 

I’d love to start learning a new language – possibly Japanese. I also want to take up a ceramics or painting course. I’d like to read more fiction books. Recently I’ve found myself reading mostly non-fiction. For example, right now I’m reading ‘Curing Affluenza: How to Buy Less Stuff and Save the World’ by Richard Denniss. It’s such a vital book for our times but not exactly a light read before bed.   

Favourite city of the most interesting place you've visited or travelled?

One of the most interesting places I’ve ever visited was the Northern Territory, in particular the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Waking up at dawn to watch the sun come up over Uluru was truly one of the most magical and spiritual experiences I’ve ever had.  

What is your greatest personal achievement or something you feel truly proud of? 

My greatest achievement is probably completing my PhD last year. I used a mixed methods research design to uncover the role that online communities play in the lives of new Italian migrants in Australia. 

It was such a roller-coaster ride requiring diligence, unrelenting commitment and endless cups of tea! But I finished my thesis on time and along the way I learnt so much about research inquiry and about myself too.

Penny_HexagonProfilePic.png

About the Author

Penny Cannan
Business Administrator

Penny has a background in Art and Design, Communications, Brand Identity and Project Management.

 

Be in the loop

 

Categories

* indicates required
Subscribe to
Read More