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Participatory Practices

Participatory methods are seen as new ways to create inclusive platforms for diverse voices - they offer new perspectives and new ways to examine how phenomena can be understood. They also have the power to challenge assumptions. The youth focused work of CTS and the British Council puts participation and creativity front and centre - an approach that offers critical lessons for all involved.

Mobile Arts for Peace (MAP) works with young people through music dance and drama in communities affected by conflict and other traumatic situations and where public services are non-existent or limited. A key focus of these creative projects is addressing the mental health of young people through activities that enable them to express and confront painful experiences and to articulate often abstract ideas about the past, self, community and identity.


Using the archive

You can use the search box or click the links in the author, categories or tags fields to immediately filter the content, (this can be repeated multiple times). Select the link in the title column to see more information about that resource including the ability to watch, preview and download the content. See below for a selection of resources from the archive highlighting material relating to participatory practices.

TitleSummaryAuthorCategoriesTagsdoc_categories_hfilterdoc_tags_hfilter
El Juego del Encuentro (Longing to Return)Watch the graduation film ‘El Juego del Encuentro’ (Longing to Return) from Angel Hurtado, visual artist on the ‘Building Trust for Truth-telling among Former Child Soldiers’ project. Angel was also …Angel Hurtado, changemakersfilm subject-participatory-arts
Relatos del futuro/ The Future is Unwritten (Colombia)Co-Investigator Simon Dancey Changing the Story’s Phase 1 Colombia strand incorporates two areas of research. The first, an experimental project that seeks to stimulate creativity among young people dwelling at …Dr Simon Dancey, , , colombia phase1 locationfilm subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections
Caja de Herramientas Methodological toolkitCuál es la verdad? (What is the Truth?) De-constructing collective memories and imagining alternative futures with young people in Chocó through music and arts is a Phase 2 Large Grant …, , , , , colombia phase2 locationfilm language-spanish sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions subject-participatory-arts
YouthLEAD Case StudyYouthLead (Colombia) is a participatory arts research project and collaboration between Queen's University Belfast, National Centre for Historical Memory, Konrad Lorenz University and Gestores de Paz. which addresses two broad …, , , , , , , colombia locationarticle language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-3-health-and-well-being subject-participatory-arts subject-street-art youth
Connective Memories - Case studyConnective Memories is a participatory arts research project on the topic of Isangizanyankuru (meaning shared stories and memories in Kinyarwanda), codesigned, co-delivered and evaluated by 10 young people and 6 …, , , , , , phase2 rwanda locationlanguage-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-3-health-and-well-being sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts
La Verdad, created and performed by Cuál es la verdad?La Verdad, created and performed by Cuál es la verdad? (Colombia). Cuál es la verdad? (What is the Truth?) De-constructing collective memories and imagining alternative futures with young people in …, , , , , colombia phase2 locationfilm language-spanish sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions subject-participatory-arts
‘No-One Can Tell a Story Better than the One Who Lived It’Academic article. Understandings of childhood and trauma are based on bio-psychological frameworks emanating from the Global North, often at odds with the historical, political, economic, social and cultural contexts in …Chaste Uwihoreye, Dr Eric Ndushabandi, Dr Kirrily Pells, Dr Matthew Elliot, Dr Sylvestre Nzahabwanayo, Prof Ananda Breed, , , , , , rwanda locationarticle language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-3-health-and-well-being sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts
WPS3 Kelly and Flower"Arts-based research practices and alternatives: Reflections on workshops in Uganda and Bangladesh" by Ruth Kelly and Emilie Flower. In July 2017, two groups of academics, artists and activists held research …Emilie Flower, Ruth Kelly, , , , , , bangladesh event uganda locationlanguage-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections
That was nice, but so what? Participatory Arts for Sustainable DevelopmentArtists, activists, practitioners and academics speak about the opportunities and challenges of participatory arts in development. Filmed at our international seminar held as part of the GCRF ‘Voicing Hidden Histories’ …, , eventfilm language-english subject-participatory-arts
When Elvis Dances: Activating Community Knowledge through Participatory Creative Practices in Santiago, ChileThis is an Accepted Manuscript version of chapter 5 of the book 'Participatory Arts in International Development' published by Routledge/CRC Press on 29 August 2019. The final version of each …Simon Popple, , article language-english subject-participatory-arts
CARAN ManualCommunity Arts against Antimicrobial Resistance in Nepal is a a practice research project that took place 2017-19 in Nepal. The aim of the project was to explore how participatory approaches …, , , , , , nepal locationtoolkit language-english sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-15-life-on-land sdg-3-health-and-well-being subject-participatory-arts subject-policy
Going Digital A Changing the Story Position on online arts and humanities researchBlog (2020/03/31) Going Digital A Changing the Story Position on online arts and humanities researchLauren Wray, , , safeguardingblog language-english subject-participatory-arts subject-policy
Mobile Arts for Peace (MAP): Youth and Participatory Arts in RwandaThis is an Accepted Manuscript version of chapter 7 of the book 'Participatory Arts in International Development' published by Routledge/CRC Press on 29 August 2019. The final version of each …Prof Ananda Breed, , rwanda locationarticle language-english subject-participatory-arts
Arts-based Methods and Digital Technology for Peacebuilding during the time of COVID-19Blog (2020/09/03) Arts-based Methods and Digital Technology for Peacebuilding during the time of COVID-19Prof Ananda Breed, , , , , phase1 rwanda locationblog language-english subject-covid19 subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections
'Extended Mobile Arts for Peace'Mobile Arts for Peace Rwanda Documentary, directed by Deus Kwizera. Mobile Arts for Peace (MAP) is a practice-as-research project using arts-based methods to increase child and youth participation in decision-making …Deus Kwizera, , , , , , , event rwanda locationfilm language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-3-health-and-well-being sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts
Cuál es la verdad? (What is the Truth?) Final Project VideoCuál es la verdad? (What is the Truth?) De-constructing collective memories and imagining alternative futures with young people in Chocó through music and arts is a Phase 2 Large Grant …, , , , , colombia phase2 locationfilm language-spanish sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions subject-participatory-arts
Civil Society Organisations Reflections on Arts Based Methodologies in SchoolsBlog (2019/12/20) Civil Society Organisations Reflections on Arts Based Methodologies in SchoolsNub Raj Bhandari, , , , , kenya nepal phase2 locationblog language-english subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections
'Your Story to Tell'In September 2021, Changing the Story hosted a week-long work placement for a young person through the Arts Emergency Work Placement programme. Over the course of the week, Rachel engagement …Rachel, , , event praxis changemakerslanguage-english subject-participatory-arts
LIVING ARTS BLOG: ‘We Have More and More Stories to Share’Blog (2020/08/24) LIVING ARTS BLOG: ‘We Have More and More Stories to Share’, , , , cambodia phase2 locationblog language-english subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections
Changing the Story: Youth Research BoardThis video introduces the work of the Youth Research Board and their contribution to the final Changing the Story event, , , , , event united-kingdom youth-research-board locationfilm language-english subject-participatory-arts youth
Developing Dialogue through Participatory Design and Imaginative Graphic-EthnographyThis is an Accepted Manuscript version of chapter 10 of the book 'Participatory Arts in International Development' published by Routledge/CRC Press on 29 August 2019. The final version of each …Paul Wilson, , article language-english subject-participatory-arts
ACT – Arts, critical thinking & active citizenship (Kosovo)The ACT project combines research and applied components, producing alternative practices to be proposed to formal and informal educational institutions, as well as academic research and publishing in Kosovo. The …Dr Nita Luci, Dr Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers, , , kosovo phase1 locationfilm subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections
Participatory Arts and Youth Activism as Vehicles of Social ChangeThis article by Henry Redwood, Tiffany Fairey, and Jasmin Hasić provides an analytical case study of a participatory youth-led filmmaking project in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Using the conceptual framework of …Dr Henry Redwood, Dr Jasmin Hasić, Dr Tiffany Fairey, , , , , , , bosnia-and-herzegovina locationarticle language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-16-institutions sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts youth
Interpreting Civic National Values in Nepal (documentary short)'Interpreting Civic National Values' aims to empower children in post-conflict settings to articulate their interpretations and shared communications of civic national values through their creation of a performance arts-based 'scheme …, , , , , nepal phase2 locationfilm sdg-16-institutions sdg-17-partnerships sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts
Phase One Critical Review: Mobile Arts for Peace (Rwanda)As part of Changing the Story's Phase One Activities is Rwanda this critical review and project reflection maps out the work of the project taking place in both public and …Dr Sylvestre Nzahabwanayo, , , , , , , , , phase1 rwanda locationreport language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-3-health-and-well-being sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections youth
ReSpace Symposium (June 2021)ReSpace investigates how concepts of space, through arts-based participatory methods, can engage the ‘post-memory’ generation (Hirsch, 2008) in Rwanda and Kosovo to reimagine specific sites of memory. Chaired by ReSpace …Dr Paula Callus, , , , , , , , event kosovo phase2 rwanda locationfilm language-english sdg-16-institutions sdg-17-partnerships sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts
Searching for peace: art, genocide and memory in 2022 Ukraine and 1992-1995 Bosnia and HerzegovinaReport of a Mobility Fund supported project on the peacebuilding aspects of coffee-making/drinking in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Outlining the development of the project from creating a podcast (“The Late Art …Yelyzaveta Glybchenko, , , , bosnia-and-herzegovina mobility-fund locationarticle film subject-participatory-arts subject-peace
Interpreting Civic National Values: Scheme of Work (Spanish Version)This Scheme of Work document was devised as a framework for research and development by the Phase 2 project 'Interpreting Civic National Values' to allow young people in Kenya and …, , , , , , , , kenya nepal phase2 locationtoolkit language-spanish sdg-16-institutions sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts subject-peace subject-policy
Munzira Yunjye: In My WayZine representing outcomes of workshops funded by Changing the Story Mobility Fund, 26th-28th July 2022. The venue for the workshops was the YEGO center at Rwamagana.Eric Ngabonziza, Leonard, , , event mobility-fund rwanda locationformat-zine subject-participatory-arts
Participatory Research and SafeguardingChanging the Story has produced a series of short videos which address the various aspects of safeguarding in international development research. The aim of the series is to provide you …, , , safeguardingfilm language-english subject-participatory-arts subject-policy
Creative Expression and Contemporary Arts Making Among Young CambodiansThe Creative Expression and Contemporary Arts Making Among Young Cambodians research project analysed the creative practices and concerns of young adult artists (18-35 years old) in contemporary Cambodia. The project …Dr Amanda Rogers, , , , , cambodia phase2 locationsdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-5-gender subject-participatory-arts youth
Fragments on Heroes, Artists and Interventions (2020)Fragments on Heroes, Artists and Interventions: Challenging Gender Ideology and Provoking Active Citizenship through the Arts in Kosovo is a chapter in the edited book Cooke, P. and Soria-Dolan, I., …Dr Linda Gusia, Dr Lura Pollozhani, Dr Nita Luci, Dr Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers, , , , , , , kosovo locationarticle language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-17-partnerships sdg-5-gender gender subject-participatory-arts
Publication Launch: Youth, Voice and Development Phase One ReportBlog (2021/02/10) Publication Launch: Youth, Voice and Development Phase One ReportDr Alyson Brody, , , blog language-english subject-participatory-arts youth
ImaginingOtherwise: Meet GomezThe ImaginingOtherwise project visited the Zeitz Mocaa museum as our final art-activism-educational event for this difficult year. Meet Gomez who is studying engineering and was fascinated by the architecture of …Gomez, , , , , event south-africa changemakers locationfilm subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections youth
PUBLICATION LAUNCH! Changing the Story: Our Third YearBlog (2021/05/21) PUBLICATION LAUNCH! Changing the Story: Our Third YearAisha Kayani, , , , , , , , , , cambodia colombia india kosovo phase2 south-africa changemakers locationblog language-english subject-covid19 subject-participatory-arts youth
Examining Civic National Values in Kenya and Nepal: Why, how and what next?Blog (2019/10/01) Examining Civic National Values in Kenya and Nepal: Why, how and what next?Dr Marlon Moncrieffe, , , , , kenya nepal phase2 locationblog language-english subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections
Youth Research Board final reflectionsThe Youth Research Board are fundamental to Changing the Story. Their contribution to the project is remarkable, therefore it is only right that they get to say a few final …Antonia Bello, Arlinda, David Espitia, Eric Ngabonziza, Jayden, Jesús Campos, Leonard, Rovithono, Samjhana Balami, Taahirah Hoosain, Trina Hoti, , , , youth-research-boardarticle language-english language-spanish subject-participatory-arts youth
Transrational Communication through Participatory ArtsHear from Prof Paul Cooke and Dr Lou Harvey in conversation with Luke McFarline on their paper 'Transrational Communication through Participatory Arts with South African Youth.Dr Lou Harvey, Luke McFarline, Prof Paul Cooke, , , , , south-africa locationaudio language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts
Changing the Story Consolidating Learning CoLearnSEEFind out more about the Changing the Story Consolidating Learning project CoLearnSEE. Highlights projects across South Eastern Europe, , , , , , , , bosnia-and-herzegovina kosovo phase2 rwanda locationfilm sdg-10-inequalities sdg-4-education sdg-5-gender sdg-8-work subject-participatory-arts
Does the education system equip us for our future?Creative Education Corner is a group within the Changing the Story Youth Research Board comprised of Samjhana, Arlinda, and Taahirah who are interested in arts-based methods and specifically the question …Arlinda, Samjhana Balami, Taahirah Hoosain, , youth-research-boardformat-zine subject-participatory-arts youth
Music, Community and Environment workshop - Mr KlajeRecording of Mr Klaje’s (Colombia) Music, Community and Environment workshop, 29th April, University of Leeds. This workshop promoted collaborative work actions and intercultural scenarios among diverse students/participants, as a strategy …Mr Klaje, , , , colombia event phase2 locationfilm language-english subject-participatory-arts
Street Art to Promote Representation: An Exhibition Series in ZimbabweBlog (2020/04/07) Street Art to Promote Representation: An Exhibition Series in Zimbabwe, , , , phase2 zimbabwe locationblog language-english subject-participatory-arts youth
Intergenerational dialogue, participatory video and perpetrator memories in CambodiaThis article reflects on a series of participatory video projects led by young Cambodians that sought to engage and explore complex ‘perpetrator’ memories with the aim of building dialogue across …Dr Katie Hodgkinson, Dr Pete Manning, Prof Paul Cooke, , , , , , cambodia phase1 locationarticle language-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-16-institutions sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts
Change from the BottomUp: How participation & creative methods are needed to challenge school context in South AfricaBlog (2020/04/20) Change from the BottomUp: How participation & creative methods are needed to challenge school context in South AfricaAshley Visagie, Dr Aylwyn Walsh, , , , phase2 south-africa locationblog language-english subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections
The power of music for connecting young people globallyBlog (2021/07/20) The power of music for connecting young people globallyDr Edwar Calderón, , , , , colombia phase2 changemakers locationblog language-english subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections
Post-Conflict Participatory Arts Socially Engaged DevelopmentThis book investigates the power of art to enhance human development and to initiate positive social change for individuals and societies recovering from conflict. Edited by Changing the Story partners …Diego Alfonso, Dr Aylwyn Walsh, Dr Claudia Pineda Marín, Dr Laura K. Taylor, Dr Scott Burnett, Dr Tendayi Marovah, Edwin Cubillos, Joshua Chikozho, Nub Raj Bhandari, Willard Muntanga, , , , , , , , , , , colombia kenya lebanon nepal uganda zimbabwe locationarticle language-english sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-16-institutions sdg-17-partnerships sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts
Izazov Case StudyIzazov is a Changing the Story Phase 2 ECR project which aims to build the capacity of young change-makers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to further connect with youth civil …, , , , , , , bosnia-and-herzegovina changemakers locationlanguage-english sdg-10-inequalities sdg-11-sustainable-cities sdg-16-institutions sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts youth
Empowering and Engaging Young People through Arts and Humanities Approaches: A Research Report for PRAXISBlog (2022/06/28) Empowering and Engaging Young People through Arts and Humanities Approaches: A Research Report for PRAXISDr Alyson Brody, PRAXIS, , , youth-engagement-strand praxisblog language-english subject-participatory-arts youth
Street Art to Promote Representation and Epistemic Justice: Book of ArtStreet Art to Promote Representation and Epistemic Justice among Marginalized Rural Zimbabwean Youth sought to generate democratic space by giving the Binga youth an opportunity to tell the stories they …, , zimbabwe locationlanguage-english subject-participatory-arts subject-street-art
Researching like an Artist: Disrupting Participatory Arts-Based Methods in Uganda and BangladeshThis is an Accepted Manuscript version of chapter 13 of the book 'Participatory Arts in International Development' published by Routledge/CRC Press on 29 August 2019. The final version of each …Emilie Flower, Ruth Kelly, , uganda locationarticle language-english subject-participatory-arts
Challenging the Message of the Medium: Scaling Participatory Arts Projects and the Creativity Agenda in KenyaThis is an Accepted Manuscript version of chapter 4 of the book 'Participatory Arts in International Development' published by Routledge/CRC Press on 29 August 2019. The final version of each …Jane Plastow, Prof Paul Cooke, Simon Peter Otieno, , kenya locationarticle language-english subject-participatory-arts
Interpreting Civic National Values: Scheme of Work (Swahili Version)This Scheme of Work document was devised as a framework for research and development by the Phase 2 project 'Interpreting Civic National Values' to allow young people in Kenya and …, , , , , , , , kenya nepal phase2 locationtoolkit language-swahili sdg-16-institutions sdg-4-education subject-participatory-arts subject-peace subject-policy
A reflection on the graffiti training workshop held at BaTonga Museum, Binga.Blog (2019/09/12) A reflection on the graffiti training workshop held at BaTonga Museum, Binga.Willard Muntanga, , , , , , event phase2 changemakers zimbabwe locationblog language-english subject-participatory-arts youth
The power of youth participation in times of crisisBlog (2021/01/07) The power of youth participation in times of crisisDr Alyson Brody, , , , blog language-english subject-participatory-arts subject-reflections youth
Exploring Constructive Change Through Color: A Coloring Book Collaboration Between Color Up Peace and Changing The StoryThis ‘coloring book’ and exhibition is a result of a series of visual artistic transformations, adapted from the project Color Up Peace. Color Up Peace invites people from all over …Yelyzaveta Glybchenko, , , bosnia-and-herzegovina mobility-fund locationblog subject-participatory-arts subject-peace
Filming the Margins: Documentary Film, Participation and the Poetics of Resistance in Contemporary Brazil Stephanie Dennison and Gilberto Alexandre SobrinhoThis is an Accepted Manuscript version of chapter 11 of the book 'Participatory Arts in International Development' published by Routledge/CRC Press on 29 August 2019. The final version of each …Gilberto Alexandre Sobrinho, Stephanie Dennison, , brazil locationarticle language-english subject-participatory-arts