Evaluating Arts’ Impact in Climate Inquiry

The goal of this research is to shift climate engagement by improving climate-arts practices through better alignment of underlying research processes and evaluation frameworks. Currently, climate engagement is dominated by the information deficit model, a theory of change widely understood to be more effective in raising awareness of climate challenges than supporting pro-climate behavioural change. While the turn to the arts has been widespread in recent years, without sufficient theoretical, methodological, and evaluative clarity, this turn to art often backfires, instrumentalizing arts practices by enlisting them in science and policy communication exercises. Irresistible Neighborhoods (hereafter IrN) is a multi-phase climate-arts research collaboration between the Metcalf Foundation and the National Arts Centre. This research project proposes to develop an integrated evaluation framework and apply it to investigate the impacts of IrN. The goal is to build understanding of whether/how aesthetic-led arts-based methodologies can improve public engagement efforts related to the climate crisis. The proposed methodological approach is mixed-methods, including comparative framework analysis, participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and document and artefact review.

Faculty Supervisor:

Kelly Vodden

Student:

Partner:

Metcalf Foundation

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: