Abstract
This paper makes an original contribution to our understandings of the relational role of artistic practice as part of rural community development. Art-led initiatives are now commonplace in rural development strategies. However, the effects of art in rural community, particularly beyond economic development, have received little attention. In this paper we seek to address this omission by exploring artistic experiments as part of community development processes. Theoretically, we draw on relational understandings of art from art studies. Empirically, the paper utilises data collected through a one-year experimental study involving ethnography and artistic interventions in the community of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in the north east of England. By directing our consideration of art via Liepins' framework (2000a) for ‘reading’ the community, we reveal artistic practice itself as a way to ‘read relationships’. Rather than a tool for solving community problems, we conceptualise artistic practice as a ‘diagnostic’.
Highlights
Drawing on a one-year experimental study combining ethnography and artistic fieldwork in a tidal island in northern England, we propose that the art experience reveals the complexity of rural community relationships
Beyond the creation of new local art products and markets of economic significance, we argue that art has much to offer to rural community development
We argue that art ‘reads’ community
Summary
This paper contributes to our understanding of the relational nature of the art experience via exploring the role for artistic interventions within rural community development. Recent academic literature has explored community transformations resulting from art-led practices, such as creating a sense of belonging (Waitt and Gibson, 2013) providing opportunities for social interaction critical for the wellbeing of rural communities (Anwar McHenry, 2011), and solving community problems (Marksusen, 2006). Despite these contributions there is very little work in the rural context on what art does in practice, how art achieves such (or other) goals. We close with a discussion regarding the role of art in rural community development as well as its limitations
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