Welcome, artsvest participants!
This brief template is designed to help you reflect on a recent project and identify how it contributed to social cohesion.
Social Cohesion keywords/definitions:
-Trust
-Belonging
-Identity and pride
-Co-operation
-Connection
-Dialogue
-Inclusion
-Strong intergroup relations
-Reduced social isolation
-Increased participation in civic and socio-cultural activities
Instructions
-Select / Copy the text on this page
-Paste into an email draft to yourself
-Choose one project, program, event, or initiative to reflect on.
-Answer each question using bullet points.
-Keep your responses brief and concrete.
-Refer to the Artworks Report and the Social Cohesion Definitions as needed.
-Take out what doesn’t apply for your project.
-Click *send*
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Step 1: Project Snapshot (2 mins)
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Project title:
Who was involved?
-Participants:
-Partners:
-Artists:
-Volunteers:
-Staff:
-Municipality:
What was the project?
Where did it take place?
What need, gap, or opportunity were you responding to?
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Step 2: Social Cohesion Outcomes (2 mins)
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Looking back, what changed as a result of this project? Consider both intended and unintended outcomes.
What increased?
-Participation
-Dialogue
-Connection
-Collaboration
-Trust
-Sense of belonging
What decreased?
-Isolation
-Barriers to participation
-Misunderstanding between groups
-Expectation of exclusion
How do you know?
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Step 3: Resources Used (2 mins)
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What resources were needed to achieve these results?
For this resource type: –> What was needed?
Humans
-Staff:
-Artists:
-Volunteers:
-Advisors:
Informational
-Research:
-Outreach:
-Communications:
Physical
-Space
-Equipment
-Materials
Intellectual
-Expertise
-Training
-Creative knowledge
Financial
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Step 4: Impact – What difference did it make? (2 mins)
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What signals, feedback, or observations suggest the project had a positive impact?
-Participant comments
-People stayed longer than expected
-Repeat attendance
-Increased engagement
-New relationships formed
-Partner feedback
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Step 5: Evidence for the Future (2 mins)
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If someone asked you to prove these outcomes, what could you put in place next time to collect stronger evidence?
-Surveys
-Observation Notes
-Interviews
-Photos (with permission for use)
-Attendance Tracking
-Follow ups/Check-ins
-Testimonials
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Step 6: What Would Make This Easier? (2 mins)
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What would help you achieve these outcomes and contribution to social cohesion more intentionally next time?
What contribution from an investor, funder, sponsor, or partner would help?
Examples:
-More volunteers
-Additional funding
-A better location
-Transportation support
-Marketing assistance
-Evaluation tools
-Longer timelines
-Support confirmed early
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Step 7: Step 7: One-Paragraph Summary (5 mins)
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Using your answers above, write a short paragraph (3–5 sentences) that explains:
-What the project was
-Who it served
-How it contributed to social cohesion
-What evidence or observations support that claim
-What you would need in order to increase evidence or effectiveness in the future re: building social cohesion