Visual and Theatre Arts and Community Development

Abstract

Common to community development and social work processes and art (drawing, painting, collage, sculpture) are opportunities to express emotions, thoughts, memories and ideas. Yet the recognition and nurturing of a symbiotic relationship between the two professions to build the psychosocial supports that could enhance the quality of life of our clients has not become a mainstream agenda. The arts for a long time have remained at the periphery of community development and social work processes. While the profession of social work provides coping, resilience and active hope (Pulla, 2013; Pulla & Riggs, 2013), forms of art would assist in regenerating purpose, rejuvenating life processes and uplifting the affective domain of our client systems. Arts-centred community building is inherently complex because it involves other community sectors such as social services, community development and public safety. This chapter utilises autoethnography (Chase, 2013) in its methodology, combined with critical artsbased critical inquiry (Finley, 2013).

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