WE REST.ART
They produce artistic projects which focus on themes of, or where art functions as an act/tool of, personal or collective resilience, recovery and restart or reconstruction of identity.They produce public art and cultural projects to create awareness on diversity, inclusion and climate change. They organise workshops bringing disadvantaged young people closer to theatres and museums. They…
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Idea for research
Idea for research
Werest.art is an innovative and community-empowering charity focussing efforts on helping and integrating A.R.I.A (Asylum seeker, Refugees and Immigrant Artists) and tackling global injustices. Through all mediums of art – from painting and theatre to literature, Werest.art workshops and cultural projects promote awareness of sustainability and mental health.

Winners of the Faces of Climate Change 2023, Werest.art apply creative arts as a medium to educate communities on critical issues such as climate change and sustainability. The primary focus of the research is to assess the long-term impact of mental health and wellbeing among participants engaged in preventive educational art workshops. Additionally, it aims to explore the effectiveness of these workshops in addressing topics like migration, climate change, and sustainability. We are eager to delve into the significance of art and culture within marginalized communities. This opportunity not only investigates the relationship between creativity and social wellbeing but also provides a platform for sharing compelling stories that highlight our impactful work.

The output of the research can include an analysis of social return on investment and impact reports.
Impact of idea
This research will gather evidence that art workshops can promote positive wellbeing whilst educating on pressing topics such as climate change and sustainability. This research has the potential to be a tool that supports fundraising and grant applications for delivering these art workshops which transform vulnerable lives. Westart.art can leverage this vital research that provides evidence that art-led projects affect wider social and mental health, supporting the need for funding to implement an expansion of projects beyond the local level.
Comments
There are some limited surveys and feedback forms that may be used.
Werest.art has initiated small measures of refugee demographical data collections from NHS referrals and local councils, which may be available subject to GDPR.

The researcher will gather data on the effectiveness of the art workshop with the participants, follow-up data on pre-existing participants, and the opinions and observations of support staff that facilitate the art workshops.
The researcher has the option to facilitate with the Werest.art support staff and collaborators (AWRC, British Ukrainian Aid, Rent Community Hub, etc) and gather quantitative and qualitative data through feedback, interviews and observations.

If you have any existing data or information you would like included in a project, please tell us what kind of data these are

What new data or information would you like to be collected in this project?

Data generated through this idea

Application process
Application criteria
Desirable but non-essential academic background: Sociology, Economics, Sustainability/Environmental, Psychology, communications, media
Students with a personal connection to werest.art’s manifesto are encouraged to apply
DBS needed
Yes
Is this project fully accessible to students with the disabilities?
Yes
Disabilities information
Sites have disability access/wheelchair accessible