Day Three – Outreach

Posted on | September 3, 2008 | No Comments

Guest post by Clif Evers. Clif is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Journalism and Media Research Centre at the University of New South Wales. He is Co-Editor of Kurungabaa – A journal of literature, history and ideas for surfers, and Altitude - A journal for emerging humanities research in Australia. Clif co-convenes the ‘early career researchers’ node of the Cultural Research Network.

For the last few years I have been increasingly involved in community development work. This has meant that I have found my research leaning towards pursuing projects with various community organisations, NGOs, Not-for Profits, Service Providers, etc.

Inspired by Cultural Research work done at the Centre for Social Inclusion at Macquarie University and the Centre for Cultural Research at the University of Western Sydney I have learned that a lot of research of members of the CRN is addressing the diverse challenges which people experience in regards to inequalities. Importantly, some of this research happens to be very actionable in that outcomes continue to step up in a very real way to face social inequities that adversely affect health, education, economic development, environmental quality, and cultural and artistic representation.

A key lesson has been that ethical research with communities is based on principles of participation. It has been crucial to ensure that at all times research does not become far removed from affected communities despite cooperation and best intentions, and that the community is part of the research team. It’s what I understand as Co-operative Cultural Research – research that focuses on community-based knowledge, needs, activism, communication, and cultural expression (rather than industry, for example). While there is less money in such collaborations, and this means less “value” for relative research institutions, it is a fundamental goal of many researchers.

To ensure emerging cooperative cultural research and researchers in the 21st century continue an ethical, holistic and rigorous approach it is suggested that one day of the CRN State of the Industry conference be dedicated to promoting and working through future cooperative cultural research: best practice, how to avoid pitfalls, and promising interactive methodologies and research that are generating new collaborations, knowledge and action.

To be successful the day would rely on giving voice to a very diverse array of perspectives to look critically and honestly at how such Cooperative Cultural Research sits within the current research climate, and is – and can be – used to deal with what is a diverse array of community requirements. Attendance and voice would be sought from: researchers, community partners, artists, activists, service providers, health professionals, educators, students, policymakers and funders.

Underscoring the day might be questions like:

How cooperation can be a part of cultural research in the 21st century?

Are we up to it within the current research and teaching climate?

How can Cooperative Cultural Research and support reach those who need it most, both globally and locally?

Perhaps, some other key tracks could also be along the lines of:

· Clearing up what Cooperative Cultural Research is, and what it offers stakeholders
· Identifying and addressing pressing social inequities and disparities.
· Identifying current Cooperative Cultural Research projects and what they are trying to address.
· Negotiating best practice in translating theory and research into practice and action in diverse communities.
· Integrating artistic and cultural expression into research and dissemination processes.
· Outlining what it is that community-based organizations (eg. Migrant Resource Centres, sports organizations, aged care centres, health centres) now require of cultural researchers
· Becoming clear about the problems community groups and organizations have faced during cooperation – What does, or would, make them ‘gun shy’ and reticent in taking part in future cooperative research?
· What resources (economic, distance, time, logistical, infrastructure) issues are at play in cooperative research? How can the stakeholders help each other out in this regard?
· What methodological tools work best when undertaking Cooperative Cultural Research?
· What technological tools work best when undertaking, and communicating, Cooperative Cultural Research?
· What are the key steps to ensuring Cooperative Cultural Research meets each stakeholder’ needs?
· How do emerging researchers and community workers establish contacts in an efficient and effective way?
· What would most facilitate future cooperation?
· What are the funding steps to cooperation and collaboration?

Please critique, amend, and add to this list (it is by no means exhaustive).

Category: Research, State of the Industry 2009

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