Democracy in Arts Development1

Abstract

Too often in the arts, projects are undertaken without clear‐cut aims and ways of assessing whether these aims are accomplished. With regard to “Art for Social Change” projects, it is not difficult to identify activities that might be labelled “dishonest”, “ill‐conceived” or even “unethical”. It is argued here that it is possible, and necessary, to set clear aims, and also to devise effective assessment strategies. It is essential for artists to embrace evaluation in order to help them improve and better understand their work. 1. An earlier version of this paper was delivered at teh British Council conference, Mudanca de Cena: teatro para o desenvolvimento social (Changing the Scene: theatre and social development), Rio de Janeiro, 10 June 1999.