Author:

Keywords:

multisensory, co-creation, vunerable populations, evaluation

Abstract:

Upcycling projects that focus on the re-use of thrown away material have known a considerable uptake in the last couple of years. Research projects introducing an upcycling component are relatively scarce to date. Informed by participatory research methodologies we embarked on a co-creation project called ‘Magnificent Rubbish’ in which we partnered up with Arktos vzw (organization working with vulnerable youngsters) and Vizoog vzw (artistically inspired organization specialized in upcycling methodologies). We introduced the project in the context of a study aiming to make sense out of place, exploring how people understand and connect to their living environment. We opted for the Vaartkom region, a neighborhood in development close to Leuven. The following research procedure was followed: 1. Introduction to goals and ethics, 2. Inventarisation, 3. Creation, 4. Interpretation, 5. (re)presentation and 6. Evaluation. We organized an information session at the start of the research project. The main aim of this session was to familiarize the participants with more detailed information of the project and to address issues of consent and anonymity extensive information related to the ethical issues (1). We then jointly walked through the neighborhood to bring us closer to the visual and tactile sensory dimensions of our participants’ environment. During the walk, materials from the environment (found objects, trash, certain textures) were collected (2). The youngsters created maps from the local environment, situating the collected materials and develop storylines from them (3). These individual storylines were then used as a basis to negotiate meaning in the context of developing collectively shared storylines (4). The collected materials served as a basis for the construction of a piece of art, giving expression to the experiences of the youngsters. Through the use of these methods, we stimulated the imaginary power of youth to create something new with the 'undesirable' traces that people leave behind in their environment (the mess and the street litter) (5). In this paper, we report on the outcomes of the sixth step in our procedure; the evaluation phase. We discuss the multiple benefits related to the use of a multi-sensory arts-based research method with vulnerable populations as well as the challenges and limitations we faced in the implementation phase. We also include suggestions on how these challenges can potentially be bridged to increase the level of cooperation and collaboration between different stakeholders involved in the project. Reference to the project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF9yCUYAhoQ