Patternmakers Patternmakers

Spotlighting case studies of Community Arts and Cultural Development

In 2023, Patternmakers was commissioned by Creative Australia to develop a prototype for exploring case studies of Community Arts and Cultural Development. Explore the interactive digital resource ‘When Art Sparks Change’.

All around Australia, artists are sparking social change, working with communities to tell their stories, tackle big issues and create common ground.

Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD) is a specialist art form where professional artist facilitators work with communities to co-create projects with purpose. However, many Australians are not. Research shows that of all the artforms, our population has a particularly limited understanding of the benefits of CACD.

This new resource launching today collates a selection of local case studies to showcase the inspiring work led by CACD artists. As Australia grapples with a civic crisis, their work has never been more needed.

Click the button below to learn more about the project and scroll through the digital resource: 'When Art Sparks Change' or download the PDF detailing the web content.

Image Credit: Robert Catto, Milk Crate Theatre’s DUST.

 
 

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Audience Outlook Monitor — 2023

Patternmakers leads a major tracking study of audiences in partnership with US research agency WolfBrown.

Patternmakers led a major tracking study of audiences in partnership with US research agency WolfBrown.

Initiatied in the first weeks of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the study has evolved over time to explore topics like ticket-buying timelines, audience appetites for different content, and behavioural trends related to the cost-of-living crisis.

Patternmakers has partnered with Australia Council for the Arts, Create NSW, Creative Victoria, Arts Queensland, Department of the Premier and Cabinet (Arts SA), DLGSC WA and Arts ACT to deliver this project between 2020 and 2023.

Our 2020-2023 program of work helped artists and cultural organisations connect with audiences, tracking the way people engaged with arts, culture and creativity in the pandemic and post-pandemic landscape. Artists and cultural organisations needed to continually innovate the events they programmed, their marketing and their policies.

The work is regularly cited in the media and in major policy papers such as Revive, the Australia Government's National Cultural Policy. It is providing artists and cultural organisations with a resource to guide decision-making and forward planning, to help revitalise our communities.

Explore the Audience Outlook Monitor research launched in 2023:

 

Click below to view all of our past Audience Outlook Monitor publications:

Image Credit: Nicholas Smith, courtesy of Campbelltown Arts Centre.

 
 

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Audience Outlook Monitor — 2022

Patternmakers leads a major tracking study of audiences in partnership with US research agency WolfBrown.

Patternmakers led a major tracking study of audiences in partnership with US research agency WolfBrown.

Initiatied in the first weeks of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the study has evolved over time to explore topics like ticket-buying timelines, audience appetites for different content, and behavioural trends related to the cost-of-living crisis.

Patternmakers has partnered with Australia Council for the Arts, Create NSW, Creative Victoria, Arts Queensland, Department of the Premier and Cabinet (Arts SA), DLGSC WA and Arts ACT to deliver this project between 2020 and 2023.

Our 2020-2023 program of work helped artists and cultural organisations connect with audiences, tracking the way people engaged with arts, culture and creativity in the pandemic and post-pandemic landscape. Artists and cultural organisations needed to continually innovate the events they programmed, their marketing and their policies.

The work is regularly cited in the media and in major policy papers such as Revive, the Australia Government's National Cultural Policy. It is providing artists and cultural organisations with a resource to guide decision-making and forward planning, to help revitalise our communities.

Explore the Audience Outlook Monitor research launched in 2022:

 
 
 

Click below to view all of our past Audience Outlook Monitor publications:

Image Credit: Nicholas Smith, courtesy of Campbelltown Arts Centre.

 
 

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The Power of Youth Arts

Patternmakers collaborated with ATYP to produce a new research resource that tells us about the benefits of performing arts participation for children and young people.

In 2022, the Patternmakers team collaborated with the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) to discover what the research tells us about the benefits of performing arts participation for children and young people.

We’ve created a research guide that aims to consolidate the wealth of existing research on the benefits of performing arts participation for children and young people, making this evidence-based resource accessible and able to be shared in numerous ways within the sector.

Click the button below for the full report, summary, and the 5 key messages we’ve identified about young people and arts, supported by the literature.

Image Credit: Brett Boardman, courtesy of ATYP.

 
 
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Audience Research for the National Library of Australia (NLA)

In 2021-22 we worked with the National Library of Australia on a follow-on project to a major program of audience research conducted in 2020-21.

In 2021-22 we worked with the Library on a follow-on project to a major program of research conducted in 2020-21.

The project aimed to track key indicators and explore the extent to which it had made progress on the recommendations related to current audiences and diverse segments including on-site visitors (intercepted) and diverse segments including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Australians and people living with a disability.

A nationally representative survey was undertaken, along with a series of focus groups and an on-site survey of visitors to the NLA's temporary exhibition, ‘On Stage: Spotlight on Our Performing Arts’.

Key insights and recommendations were identified in four areas, with the project culminating in a cross-Departmental workshop and report.

Image Credit: Prudence Upton

 
 

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Audience Outlook Monitor — 2021

Patternmakers leads a major tracking study of audiences in partnership with US research agency WolfBrown.

Patternmakers led a major tracking study of audiences in partnership with US research agency WolfBrown.

Initiatied in the first weeks of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the study has evolved over time to explore topics like ticket-buying timelines, audience appetites for different content, and behavioural trends related to the cost-of-living crisis.

Patternmakers has partnered with Australia Council for the Arts, Create NSW, Creative Victoria, Arts Queensland, Department of the Premier and Cabinet (Arts SA), DLGSC WA and Arts ACT to deliver this project between 2020 and 2023.

Our 2020-2023 program of work helped artists and cultural organisations connect with audiences, tracking the way people engaged with arts, culture and creativity in the pandemic and post-pandemic landscape. Artists and cultural organisations needed to continually innovate the events they programmed, their marketing and their policies.

The work is regularly cited in the media and in major policy papers such as Revive, the Australia Government's National Cultural Policy. It is providing artists and cultural organisations with a resource to guide decision-making and forward planning, to help revitalise our communities.

Explore the Audience Outlook Monitor research launched in 2021:

Click below to view all of our past Audience Outlook Monitor publications:

Image Credit: Nicholas Smith, courtesy of Campbelltown Arts Centre.

 
 

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Growing contemporary First Nations performance

Patternmakers worked with BlakDance to seek feedback on its work, and gather input from stakeholders to inform its new strategic plan. BlakDance went on to carve a new direction in production of new works.

We worked with the national peak body for Indigenous Dance, BlakDance, to ‘catch and keep’ its impact from 2018 to 2020.

We invited BlakDance stakeholders to contribute their experiences and ideas via a series of depth interviews and an online survey.

We also analysed existing datasets to tell the story of First Nations dance and build an evidence base that both BlakDance, and its stakeholders, can rely on for planning, funding applications and advocacy work going forward.

It has assisted BlakDance in its conversations with partners, to advocate for additional funding and raise the profile of contemporary First Nations dance. The company was recently awarded the 2021 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award.

Read more about this project on the blog:

https://www.thepatternmakers.com.au/blog/blakdance-launches-its-impact-survey

Image credit: BlakDance

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The impact of school incursions with Musica Viva In Schools' (MVIS) Wyniss Ensemble

Patternmakers and Musica Viva evaluated the impact of its Musica Viva In Schools (MVIS) program and the Wyniss Ensemble, to highlight impacts for schools and identify opportunities for overcoming barriers to particpation.

We worked with Musica Viva to evaluate the impact of its Musica Viva In Schools (MVIS) program, and the Wyniss Ensemble specifically.

This project involved a series of classroom observations, depth interviews and an online survey of teachers who have engaged with the program.

We also analysed Musica Viva’s past teacher surveys and bookings data. The findings highlighted the domains impact of the program, identified opportunities for improvement, barriers preventing access to the program as well as students’ and teachers’ experiences.

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Understanding community impact with Bundanon Local

Patternmakers worked with Bundanon Trust to evaluate the impact of its community-engaged art program, Bundanon Local.

We collaborated with Bundanon Trust to undertake an impact evaluation of its community engagement program, Bundanon Local in 2019.

The research involved a co-design process with the Trust’s staff, a series of depth interviews with artists and key stakeholders, as well as a survey of Bundanon’s networks.,

The findings highlighted that the program plays a vital role in the Shoalhaven community in providing access to Arthur Boyd’s legacy and facilitating a space for young and emerging artists to connect with professional practitioners and nurture their creativity.

The project helped to identify future opportunities for the Trust to expand the reach and impact of the program for more communities.

Read about and download the report:


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Impact Evaluation for Musica Viva's In Schools program and Wyniss Ensemble

In 2019, we worked with Musica Viva to evaluate the impact of its Musica Viva In Schools (MVIS) program, and the Wyniss Ensemble specifically.

We worked with Musica Viva to evaluate the impact of its Musica Viva In Schools (MVIS) program, and the Wyniss Ensemble specifically.

This project involved a series of classroom observations, depth interviews and an online survey of teachers who have engaged with the program. We also analysed Musica Viva’s past teacher surveys and bookings data.

The findings highlighted the domains impact of the program, identified opportunities for improvement, barriers preventing access to the program as well as students’ and teachers’ experiences.

Image Credit: www.musicaviva.com.au/news-stories/2021/aug/musica-viva-in-schools-2022-has-launched/

 
 

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Impact Evaluation Partner for BlakDance

In 2018, we worked with the national peak body for Indigenous Dance, BlakDance, to ‘catch and keep’ its impact from 2018 to 2020.

We worked with the national peak body for Indigenous Dance, BlakDance, to ‘catch and keep’ its impact from 2018 to 2020.

We intived BlakDance stakeholders to contribute their experiences and ideas via a series of depth interviews and an online survey.

We will analysed existing datasets to tell the story of First Nations dance and build an evidence base that both BlakDance, and its stakeholders, can rely on for planning, funding applications and advocacy work going forward.

Image Credit: https://www.blakdance.org.au/

 
 

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Evaluation of the National Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator for Performing Lines

We worked collaboratively with the Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator to design an evaluation framework and gather feedback from regional presenters and community engagement stakeholders across Australia.

We worked collaboratively with the Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator to design an evaluation framework and gather feedback from regional presenters and community engagement stakeholders across Australia.

After workshopping the results, we developed a case study to share the outcomes and lessons from the pilot. Performing Lines secured support for the next phase of the pilot and presented the work at the Australian Performing Arts Centres Association Conference, where they were awarded Drover Award for Tour of the Year 2016.

Read about and download the report:

Image Credit: Tracey Schramm, courtesy of ATYP.

 
 

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