MA in Arts, Festival and Cultural Management
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/7195
Browse
21 results
Search Results
Item Exploring contemporary expressions of the identity of Scottish craft through makers on Instagram(2021)This study explores contemporary expressions of the identity of Scottish craft trough makers on Instagram. Current research reflects that the Scottish craft sector feels that policy makers’ perceptions of craft need to change. It also showed that the sector feels that an identity for Scottish craft needs to be developed, which has historically been linked to the national identity and mass-produced souvenirs. In recent years makers have been turning to social media platforms to promote and sell their work and it is a space where they feel they can control the narrative surrounding their practice. Therefore, by exploring how makers construct their Scottish maker identity on Instagram, more accurate expressions of Scottish craft can be revealed. Further, it is argued that by identifying as Scottish on their Instagram accounts, makers are shaping perceptions of Scottish craft, and thus, its identity as well. This research comprised a questionnaire, and five case studies that consisted of self-curated photo elicitation and interviews data generation methods. These methods involved asking participants to select a series of posts that they felt most strongly demonstrated their identity as a Scottish maker which were then discussed through interviews. The study found that participants felt proud to be a Scottish maker and saw it a unique and attractive quality to customers online. Participants identified what they saw as stereotypical symbols of Scottish craft, such as tartan and Celtic designs, but did not feel they reflected Scottish craft today. Instead, makers identified community and place related ideas as more authentic symbols of Scottish craft. This research is a study of the contemporary identify of Scottish craft through its makers themselves, and is a preliminary contribution to a subject that has received little scholarly attention to date.Item Live after Lockdown: ‘Is there the potential to create a more sustainable and engaged live music industry by developing live streaming?’(2021)This study examines live streaming to determine whether it can support and engage the UK live music industry after the pandemic. In this study, there is an analysis of artists and grassroots music venues in terms of their sustainability, and an analysis of accessibility issues with attending live music. A subjectivist ontology guides the methodology from a constructivist stance, adopting grounded theory to interpret knowledge. A mixed method approach of quantitative and qualitative based research was used in the research design to produce extensive statistical data and rich meaning. The research included a small scale survey and one-to-one interviews. While most people have watched live a stream, it was only because there was no other option, and the medium has failed to option create lasting engagement with the audience. However, the results suggest live streaming will be sticking around for a long time, as the opportunities it provides for artist and small venue sustainability have been identified. Equally, the research provides evidence that live streaming can make live music more accessible for many people who cannot attend in person. The researcher suggests that investment in live streaming is made to fully develop its potential as a new market within the music industry. This study fills the gap in knowledge regarding sustainability in the UK live music industry concerning live streaming and is beneficial for anyone working in the industry or concerned for its future.Item “I just love to show off”: the effects of a professional participatory music programme on people with dementia and their carers(2021)Music as a form of therapy for people with dementia is a unique and increasingly common intervention, because musical memory tends to remain preserved from the effects of dementia. Recently, arts organisations have developed programming for people with dementia and their carers, and Scottish Opera appears to be the first music organisation to do so in the form of a programme called Memory Spinners. However, little research has been conducted on an ongoing participatory music programme for people with dementia and their carers hosted by a professional arts organisation. This qualitative case study, based on semistructured interviews with four people with dementia and carer couples, explores the ways participants are affected by participating in Memory Spinners, from their perspectives. A thematic analysis of the data uncovered four interrelated themes. The first discusses effects regarding sociality and relationships. However, it was discovered that those with cognitive impairments need an activity, rather than socialisation alone. The second discusses how music was found to be the activity of most value to participants, because the relationship of dementia with musical memory makes it accessible to all. The third discusses how the programme’s professional environment facilitated artistic quality and continued learning. This environment, unrelated to healthcare, also facilitated an environment of equality. Furthermore, the professionalism presented a structure involving working towards a performance, provoking the most influential theme that discusses resulting feelings of achievement, confidence and agency in participants. Ultimately, the effects most important to participants are related to their own identity and personhood, provoking more research that goes beyond observing changes in dementia symptoms. While programmes like Memory Spinners cannot change the reality of those living with dementia, this study finds that they can have positive effects on participants.Item Online engagement and expectations between young people and libraries in Edinburgh: A study on audience development in the digital age(2021)As a place of information, learning and research, libraries have played an important role in society and the passing on and searching of information and knowledge. However, libraries have become community spaces that promote culture, exchange, and creativity through activities such as reading groups, writing workshops or special events like author Q&As. Through the constant modernisation of society and technological advancements, libraries have adopted a more developed online presence, which is not only used as a way to make information accessible for more people, but also as a tool to engage with different audiences. Due to their age and higher affiliation with the digital world, younger generations have been a desired audience segment for libraries to engage with online, although not always successfully. The Covid-19 pandemic forced cultural organisations, libraries included, to temporarily move entirely online and thus, they have had to strengthen their online presence not only with the aim of keeping up their service but also to keep connected to their audiences. This study aims to look at how libraries have been developing online strategies to engage with younger audiences, more specifically those between the ages 16 to 25. Through the data obtained from surveying these young people on their habits and expectations of engaging with libraries online, interviewing members of the council on how the library network in Edinburgh works, and surveying some employees of libraries, this research has been able to collect information from all the different parties involved in this topic. This has enabled the study to compare and contrast the different views on online engagement with libraries as well as discover the main challenges and develop possible recommendations that could help libraries create a more defined online presence which engages more young people.Item The notion of change explored through the lens of organisational identity: A study of four community-led arts organisations in Scotland(2021)Cultural organisations are frequently required to justify what they do by establishing a firm sense of who they are. Being able to articulate their sense of self has become an increasing priority, understanding what is central, enduring and distinctive about their organisation. The literature describes this as organisational identity and states that having a clear sense of this notion is crucial to strategic planning processes. With cultural organisations subjected to increased elements of change as the cultural sector continues to cogitate means of survival, understanding and strengthening organisational identity could mitigate against potential organisational dysfunction. Therefore, cultural leaders may strengthen their organisations by striving to nurture and support processes relating to organisational identity. This study aims to explore the notion of organisational identity as a factor in change management that may prove integral to effective cultural leadership. It will look at these two notions with specific reference to community-led arts organisations, profiling mini case studies as a means to create discussion. The study will further look at which organisational members are involved in organisational identity decision-making and the consequences of this. Lastly, conclusions will be established by drawing hypothesis on the themes explored and final recommendations will be set out as next steps for the cultural sector.Item Item Write Here: a phenomenological exploration of young writers’ relationships with space(2021)This study uses psychology, philosophy, sociology, and pedagogy to explore the ways in which spaces, both “real” and imagined, influence young writers’ creative processes. Arts - based methods were applied in conscious opposition to traditional “banking” models of education, priortising the different truths and ways of knowing accepted in phenomenology. Through a thematic and arts-based analysis of a focus group, surveys, and creative writing pieces from 826 Boston’s Youth Literaary Advisory Board, themes of comfort, individuality and dis/embodiment, community, and contrasts were generated. This dissertation concludes with recommendations for researchers and arts managers interested in the creative processes of teen writers.
- «
- 1 (current)
- 2
- 3
- »