A Conclusion

Through this research project, I set out to explore the approaches to, and the impact of, inclusive arts practice at Epic Arts Cambodia. I did this through a qualitative research approach in the form of interviews and activity observations, which investigated the perceptions, experiences and practices of activity participants, facilitators and programme managers at Epic Arts Cambodia. From this I discover the necessary ‘Attitudes’, ‘Actions and ‘Personal Skills’ that people at Epic Arts believed to bring about successful inclusive arts practice and what impact these necessary attitudes and subsequent practices have on people who interact with the work Epic Arts delivers.

I presented the research process and results of this investigation publically to a worldwide audience via this blog, which recorded my learning journey and the understanding that I gained from interactions with people at Epic Arts. This blog focused on discovering what the necessary attitudes and resulting practices were that people at Epic Arts believed brought about successful inclusive art practice and the impact that is made, as well as my personal learning and chosen processes. 

After analyzing the data collected and discovering the three main areas; ‘Attitudes’, ‘Actions’ and ‘Personal SkilIs’, I then worked with managers and staff at Epic Arts to discuss the findings of this research and work to develop methods to communicate the key findings of this investigation to support the sharing of experience, learning and best practice in inclusive arts at Epic Arts and add to the dialogue of inclusive arts practice. This took form in three different ways; firstly I worked with Cambodian managers at Epic Arts to create a book that they could understand and be able to share with others. At this point the book, ‘Inclusive Arts In Action: An Exploration of Inclusive Arts Practices at Epic Arts. by Laura Evans’ exists in English (presented in my previous blog post). The book will soon be translated to Khmer and from here, I hope to work in conjunction with staff at Epic Arts to develop a training course that focuses on using creative practices that can train people in Cambodia and further afield to work inclusively using the arts.

The second method of communicating key findings was to work with staff and students to create an ‘Inclusion Policy’ for Epic Arts. Through a discussion with staff and students at Epic Arts using the research findings the, 'We are Epic…We are Inclusive – Inclusion Policy’ was created. This policy was agreed upon by all staff and was implemented in April 2015 and sets out clear guidelines of what Epic Arts stands for and what it believes that staff should and most importantly should not do to promote inclusive in the workplace. This is the policy;

The third element that emerged as a method for communicating the findings of the research was a Manifesto for Epic Arts. Managers felt that it was important to use the research findings to create a clear statement about what Epic Arts believed, that could guide the development of the organisation in the future. ‘The Epic Arts Manifesto’ was created in April 2015 and will begin to be officially used by the organisation as of May 2015. This is the Epic Arts Manifesto;

Overall the research project enabled the voices of the activity participants, facilitators and programme managers at Epic Arts, Cambodia to be heard and this has produced a clearer understanding of what the organisation is doing. I believe that the research has unearthed the values that form the foundation of the work that Epic Arts undertakes. Even though these values may not be followed at all times by all people, as an voice of the organisation, the people at Epic Arts believe that these are the ‘Actions’, ‘Attitudes’ and ‘Personal Skills’ they should aim to cultivate through practice as authentic human beings.

This research project created new policy at Epic Arts and highlighted the need for Epic Arts to be able to share lessons it has learnt in working inclusively through the arts with people with and without disabilities in Cambodia. The results of this research project can be used in the future to develop training in the discovered ‘Attitudes’, ‘Actions’ and ‘Personal Skills’ for inclusion that can be delivered nationally and internationally by staff from Epic Arts, which can go some way to supporting some of the guiding principals of the National Disability Strategy Plan 2014-2018 for Cambodia in particular;

1.a) - Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons with disabilities.

1.c)  - Full and effective participation and inclusion in society.

1.d)  - Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity.

2.a)  - Networking, collaboration and participation among all stakeholders at different levels, which include; international, national, municipal, provincial, district and commune. 
 

(National Disability Strategy Plan 2014-2018 for Cambodia)

In addition to supporting the education of others, encouraging a change in attitudes and perceptions and the sharing of best practice, I believed that the development of creative practice based training activities linked to the book developed from these findings could provide additional income for Epic Arts, which can generate sustainable income for the organisation. As there is a limited amount of information and research in to inclusive arts, I believe that this investigation in to what Epic Arts is doing in Cambodia and the three documents that this has produced for Epic Arts, has been of incredible benefit to all participants involved, the Board of Trustees and the organisation as a whole, as well as adding to the current discourse surrounding inclusive arts.

A BOOK - 'Inclusive Arts in Action: An Exploration of the Inclusive Arts Practices at Epic Arts. By Laura Evans'

The research that I conducted at Epic Arts provided me with an insight in to the perceptions, experiences and practices of activity participants, facilitators and programme managers at the organisation and I felt that it was imperative that this information be shared effectively with staff at Epic Arts. During their interviews and in additional discussions, a number of staff at Epic Arts shared that they are often involved in a variety of research projects, but that they find it hard to understand the final results as the ‘academic’ language used in reports can be difficult to comprehend, as this manager explained, 

“I have given interviews before and been involved in projects where people are doing research in Cambodia, but when I try to read the report I find it hard to understand. The words are too complicated and I cannot understand what has been discovered. I have good English, but I struggle with ‘academic’ words and I really want to know what has been discovered, but just can’t access it.”

As this research project was with and about the activity participants, facilitators and programme managers at Epic Arts, I felt that for the information to be accessed by the people themselves, a more ‘simple’ version of the findings should be created. Once this version was created it would be far easier, in the future, to translate this in to the local language and to create activities and presentations surrounding the results that staff at Epic Arts could understand and then explain to others independently. I decided that a simple book that is easy to read, with little or no ‘academic’ language would be the first step in enabling people at the organisation to access the research findings and that this book could provide the basis for the Cambodian managers to be able to effectively explain what Epic Arts does, to other interested parties.

In the recent National Disability Strategy Plan 2015-2018 for Cambodia, the lack of a forum to enable people to share lessons learned and best practice in working with people with disabilities in Cambodia was highlighted, 

“There is a lack of a forum, which represents the different persons and children with disabilities, for sharing experiences, knowledge and good practice of all disability stakeholders in order to apply improvement of disability implementation as a result of good lessons learned.” 

(National Disability Strategy Plan 2015-2018 for Cambodia. 2014).

A book that can be easily translated in to Khmer that highlights what Epic Arts is doing and what it has been learnt about working positively with people with disabilities in Cambodia, could act as a starting point for discussion and grow in to a training programme for other people in Cambodia to access.

A manager at Epic Arts explained the importance of learning from this research project so that they, as well as me, can fully understand the work that they and their staff and students are doing at Epic Arts and to have an insight in to the experiences of activity participants, facilitators and programme managers at the organisation, 

“I want to improve my knowledge about the inclusive arts that we do at Epic Arts so that I can talk about it and feel confidence to share my knowledge with other people. I think if I know more about the inclusive arts that is in action at Epic Arts then I can teach others and more people can learn to be inclusive in Cambodia.” 

So I worked to simplify and adapt my research findings to make a book that could be shared. I then worked with a designer to bring the book to life. This book will be published by Epic Arts later this year and will also be translated to Khmer. Epic Arts plan to sell the book through the 'Epic Creations' marketplace and the 'Epic Arts Cafe in Kampot . Here are some sample pages of the book.