Impact case study database

Social connectedness plays an important role in wellbeing, and those living in global cities, such as London, often suffer from social isolation and loneliness. A pivotal role of the digital arts is to connect the public through a cultural offering and shared experiences of participatory art.

The Health, Economic, and Social impact of the ARTs (HEartS) study, led by the CfPS, included analysis of KIMA: Voice. As demonstrated by R3, the study of 144 KIMA: Voice participants showed increases in social connectedness, feeling in tune with others, and happiness, concluding that audiences’ wellbeing profits from participatory art engagement. With over 4,000 visitors to KIMA: Voice, the findings from R3 indicate a significant impact on the wellbeing and mental health of participants. The CfPS states, “KIMA: Voice effectively demonstrates that participatory arts can contribute to perceived social connectedness among the public, alleviating side effects of social isolation and loneliness” [E1].

In 2020, KIMA: Voice was longlisted for the coveted Lumen Award. Founder and Director of Lumen Art Projects states that BU’s research “is exemplary in actively connecting members of the public through shared sound experiences […] and contributes to a breaking down of societal barriers […]. Research outcomes of the HEartS study […] quantitatively measured the impact of the KIMA: Voice artwork on perceived social connectedness, happiness and loneliness, and was able to show a significant link between creative engagement and mental health” [E2].

“This kind of [research] helps to assess and evidence the role media art and participatory art can play [in] the public’s mental wellbeing, in an increasingly fragmented society. In times when the public is facing increased challenges from social isolation, and sensory deprivation, it is important to provide active cultural incentives to break down societal barriers, and to encourage the public to engage creatively with one another. The pioneering participatory media artwork KIMA: Voice plays a role not only in actively encouraging creative engagement by the public, but also in assessing its impact on mental wellbeing,” [E2]

The National Gallery credits KIMA: Colour as a “means to foster social connectedness” during the Covid-19 pandemic [E3a]. New, remote audiences were able to engage in “shared experiences of cultural heritage” [E3a], with over 2,000 unique views on YouTube and a combined social media reach of over 100,000 people [E3b]. “Through this new type of participatory art, and the ensuing exchange via social media, our audiences were able to remain socially connected […] in a shared cultural experience, at a time when museums were not accessible to the public,” [E3a] An NHS consultant and arts therapy Professor at Brunel University further emphasises “the important contribution of [BU] research and the use of participatory arts for improving social connectedness to mediate wellbeing for people who may not otherwise access social support” during Covid-19 [E4].

From a clinical perspective, many severe physical and mental health issues could be prevented with early interventions focusing on building trust through social connectedness [E4]. The NHS consultant and arts therapy Professor notes that the KIMA artwork provides “ethical and safe ways of building connections between participants that have the potential to impact on a range of health issues through mediating interpersonal connectedness” [E4]. Furthermore, the consultant states that their own clinical practice has been enhanced through use of ‘non-clinical’ spaces to widen accessibility to therapeutic interventions and investigation into participatory arts engagement within clinical interventions [E4].

Over 30 policy makers and experts for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations attended a talk hosted by Kensington and Chelsea Council on KIMA: Noise, called Head_Space. Kensington and Chelsea Social Council commented, “Participatory art offers huge potential for […] engaging audiences who wouldn’t otherwise consider or care about topics such as noise pollution”. Through KIMA: Noise, the Analema Group “are spreading the message that we all have a role to play in changing our environmental landscape for the better” [E5]. This deeper understanding of the link between participatory art and social connectedness benefits creative practitioners and public decision-makers, particularly post Covid-19, when the need for societal connectedness is paramount.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which has “overall lead responsibility for policy on noise management in England”, acknowledged the important role of this research in raising awareness of the health effects associated with noise among the general public [E6]. “Participatory art such as KIMA: Noise is so important […] as it communicates through a different medium to those traditionally employed by Government, and can therefore broaden the scope of public debate and help to inform policy decisions related to impacts of sound and noise.” [E6]

KIMA: Colour received coverage from 19 regional news outlets across the UK and Ireland, raising awareness of the National Gallery’s great masterpieces [E7]. Together with the gallery’s researchers, Gingrich and Renaud demonstrated the potential of media art to raise a renewed interest in classic art forms with a significant online reach of 158,000 people [E3a, E3b]. The introduction of digital platforms “proved the resilience of the Gallery during its greatest crisis since World War II” and demonstrated that it can “stay relevant in a world that emphasises participatory, immersive experiences” [E8]. Furthermore, over 50 curators, scientists, technical specialists and university students involved in the development of KIMA: Colour gained a greater understanding and first-hand experience of the potential of immersive art and the use of digital platforms to engage new audiences [E3a, E8] and expand appeal, “especially to communities who may feel historically excluded” [E8].

Noise pollution has significant and measurable effects on sleep patterns, concentration, social behaviour and heart rates, which can lead to increased risk of stroke, coronary heart diseases and diabetes – yet public awareness around the subject remains limited. Only by understanding the problem are people able to help themselves via targeted interventions. Through a series of creative public and community activities, including: three art installations, expert panel discussions, workshops, talks and the creation of a documentary, KIMA: Noise contributed to public awareness of the effect of noise on health [E9].

The Tate acknowledges that Analema Group’s KIMA: Noise at Tate Modern in 2019 addressed local, national and international audiences [E10] by focusing on noise pollution across Southwark Council, where daytime baseline levels for urban noise reaches 80db on a weekday. (Prolonged exposure to noise above 70db has the potential to harm hearing.) Beneficiaries of the impact included live and online audiences of 1,973 people and a social media reach of approximately 165,000 [E11, p.15]. Awareness of the effects of urban noise on health and wellbeing was raised among local community representatives, local and national policy makers and the wider public, provoking a public debate and encouraging those affected to help themselves [E9, E10].