This academic report looked at UK theatre in the early 2000s. It drew out ten social impacts, categorised into personal, group, civic and ‘hard’. One of very few studies into theatre specifically, and still useful for benchmarking and advocacy. University of Sheffield, 2006
Policy Action Team 10: A Report to the Social Exclusion Unit
Seminal government report that sets out how the then Labour government believed sport and the arts could contribute to neighbourhood renewal, community development and social inclusion. Marked a turning point in government policy with regards arts and culture. DCMS, 1999
Use or Ornament? The Social Impact of Participation in the Arts
The first major report to describe the impacts that participatory arts can have in terms of personal development, social cohesion, community empowerment, local image and identity, imagination and health and wellbeing. As valuable now as it was then. Francois Matarasso, 1997
A Policy for the Arts: First Steps
The first UK government White Paper for the arts, which set out radical new ideas and values around art for the many not for the few. Jenny Lee MP, 1965
Community Performance: An Introduction
A useful practical guidebook for students of community and applied performance. It gives exercises; points for reflection, commentary and illustrative examples to help emerging practitioners shape their own practice. Petra Kuppers, 2007
Applied Drama: A Facilitator’s Handbook for working in Community
A handbook for students introducing the practice, principles and concepts of applied drama.with processes and techniques that guide students to develop their practice. Monica Prendergast & Juliana Sexton, 2013
Creativity Matters: The Arts and Aging Toolkit
An extensive catalogue of exercises, approaches and frameworks for developing creative work with older people. The toolkit also has a well-developed contextual section which provides an overview of the creative ageing sector. National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, 2007
Criticality and Evaluation within a Culture of Optimism
The toolkit is specifically focussed on developing a practitioner's skills in monitoring and evaluating participatory theatre projects. Art vs Rehab, Arts Council England, 2012
Taking Bearings
Coming out of Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places projects, this toolkit offers a series of prompts and provocations to support a collaborative creative journey. Louise White for MBA Associates, Arts Council England, 2015
