Case Studies

explorING co-researchers’ lived experiences of discrimination.

Researching Discrimination Through Poetry

The collective worked together intensively for six weeks, on activities including: reading, writing, editing and performing poetry about discrimination; studying psychological theories and studies on discrimination; learning about social science research methods like interviews and thematic analysis; and creating a chapbook and spoken word show.  The group also benefited from masterclass poetry workshops delivered by Cat Kidd, Tanya Evanson, Chris Masson and Deanna Smith.

IlluminatING the experience of dementia

I Will Tell You Something of My Own

There were two aspects to the project: a piece of qualitative research and a multi-arts exhibition. Art works in the exhibition were co-created and/or inspired by people living with dementia. The project demonstrates the ability of performative social science to bring social scientific research to larger/broader audiences, to touch audiences on both emotional and cognitive levels, and to make a meaningful difference to the lives of participants and others in their community.

A live art immersive workshop

‘Do You Belong Here?’

An academic research project on migration (from Columbia and New York Universities) needed to disseminate its findings, publicise the project and do some public engagement work. Caroline collaborated with a live art practitioner - Helena Vortex, from LADA and an emergent performance artist, Gabriel, to produce a one hour immersive piece which took participants on an imagined journey. This did not attempt to replicate the migrant experience - to do so would be crass and also bound to fail.  Rather, the experience evoked aspects of belonging, borders, the bewildering and sometimes apparently arbitrary labour permit / visa application process, and themes of separation and journeying.