Social impact of the Arts project - University of Pennsylvania

It is obvious that the Arts lends itself to community development and social inclusion but quantifying and clearly articulating the benefits of community art and cultural initiatives can often prove difficult. Nineteen years ago the Social Impact of the Arts Project (SIAP) a research group from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia started to use statistical analysis and qualitative investigation to identify social impacts at the neighborhood level.

"We began in 1994 to ask questions about and develop methods to examine the impact of the arts and culture on community life. Our research focuses on the relationship of the arts to community change, with a particular interest in strategies for arts-based neighborhood revitalization and social inclusion."

When it comes to applying for grant funding and justifying the merit of art based community projects such research is invaluable.

Check out these websites for more information.
www.sp2.upenn.edu/SIAP/
http://www.trfund.com/resource/creativity.html