A Multi-Site Study of Socially Engaged Art in Public Health Research within Low Income Settings. (360G-Wellcome-102021_Z_13_Z)

There is increasing pressure for those working in community-based biomedical research to engage more with outside communities. This is justified by statements around democratising science and supporting two-way dialogue. Still, the underlying beliefs and assumptions driving engagement in practice are rarely explored and are not always understood by those involved, and the impacts of these activities are not always captured. Socially engaged art (SEA) may provide a unique space in which genuine e ngagement can take place. The aim of this research is to identify the impact and potential of SEA as a tool for community engagement (CE), allowing for open dialogue and addressing power imbalances between researchers and communities. This aim will be addressed by using two/three in-depth studies of SEA practice within the context of biomedical community-based research across different social, cultural and political contexts. Ethnographic and participatory methods will be used to explore the behaviours and attitudes of researchers, artists and other participants in the process and how these interact. As well as exploring the creative process the research will investigate the reactions and interpretations of the outputs of these works on local audiences. Outputs will hold relevance to research governance, research programmes, funders, NGOs and engagement practitioners.