Evaluating the Impact of Arts Programming
with Recreate Place and the Koffler Centre of the Arts
How does participation in enriched arts experiences contribute to children’s overall connections, emotional wellbeing and feelings of confidence? The Young Changemakers program, a three year initiative of the Koffler Centre of the Arts and Recreate Place, offers arts-based programs to students aged 8-12 in high needs communities.
As lead researcher and evaluator, I work closely with collaborators to develop an evaluation approach, using a Theory of Change framework and based in relevant research. I created a multi-pronged and creative approach to evaluation, including “collage chats”, debrief activities, ethnographic observations, child-friendly surveys and documentation. Materials for students were carefully designed to incorporate cultural, emotional and language considerations, relying on playfulness and pictography. At the close of each program year, a dynamic report was shared with partners, incorporating program documentation, student and teacher feedback and evaluation insights. Year Three will explore new evaluation strategies with teachers to round out the learning.
Through the first two years, this evaluation approach was able to clearly demonstrate positive impact towards the intended outcomes, while also recognizing the limitations of evaluation on this level. Partners and collaborators were excited to see this impact through the report and we look forward to building from here in the future.