Project eARTh evaluation

There is strong evidence that involvement in High Peak Community Arts' Project eARTh  helps participants to make connections and build strong relationships. After attending Project eARTh for 6 months, 44% of participants who completed a survey had a higher ‘score’ for ‘making connections’ than they had done in their baseline survey (n=34). After attending for 18 months, this proportion rose to 59% of participants completing a follow up survey (n=33). After 18 months’ attendance, there was a statistically significant improvement in the extent to which participants have ‘got to know new people, have been making new friends, or developing existing ones’ (n=33, p<0.01).

The act of working as a collective to create a work of art is one of the most important aspects of Project eARTh; for many, this is more meaningful than creating their own individual art alone. In addition, the fact that the artworks created are seen and enjoyed by the local community is a source of immense pride and supports participants’ development of self-worth.

Feedback from organisations where Project eARTh artwork has been displayed is highly positive. Representatives were clearly impressed with the care taken to ensure that the artworks created enhance the spaces where they will be displayed, as well as fitting with the aims of their organisation in terms of themes or approaches taken. They also report enthusiastic responses to the art from community members who engage with their organisation.

There is strong evidence of the positive impacts of involvement in Project eARTh on participants’ psychological wellbeing. Participants describe how Project eARTh provides distraction, relaxation, companionship and motivation. Amongst those participants who completed surveys, 59% had a higher ‘wellbeing’ score after attending the project for 6 months than they had done in their baseline survey (n=34). After attending for 18 months, this proportion had increased to 79% (n=33). 

Participants reported feeling better after a Project eARTh workshop (or at-home activity) on 94% of occasions (n=1,741). For 98% of sessions or at-home activities (n=163), there was evidence of a statistically significant difference between ‘before’ and ‘after’ scores (participants felt better after).

Project eARTh helps to provide participants with a support network to share concerns with, and also increases participants’ awareness of other services and organisations within High Peak. After attending Project eARTh for 6 months, 41% of participants had a higher ‘confidence and resilience’ score than they had done in their baseline survey (n=34). After attending for 18 months, 59% of participants had a higher ‘confidence and resilience’ score (n=33). After both 6 and 18 months, there was a statistically significant decrease in the extent to which participants ‘have been feeling anxious or depressed’ (n=34, p<0.05; n=33, p<0.05).