The Living Arts Evaluation

Deutsche Bank has been working with arts organisations and schools through the ECL project for several years. In 2003–4, it decided to evaluate the effect of its programme in partnership with Arts & Kids and QCA.

The result was the Living Arts Evaluation, which brought together the different perspectives of business, the arts and education. Its aims were to:

• explore how arts experiences can improve pupils' learning and change their attitudes and behaviour
• look at ways of encouraging and enabling life-long active participation in the arts
• show how schools, businesses and arts organisations can build effective practice.

Five arts organisations completed the project – the National Gallery, Globe Education, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, East-Side Educational Trust and the Design Museum. Each organisation focused on evaluating its work with one school. As the aims of the evaluation were consistent with those of ARTS alive!, QCA provided a writer to produce case studies that could be added to the website. The original case study templates were revised to incorporate the aims and objectives of the arts organisations, the schools and Deutsche Bank and proved particularly helpful in collecting the information needed. Regular meetings took place to ensure all participants were kept up-to-date and had support with the evaluation process.

A number of key messages emerged from the evaluation pertinent to businesses, arts organisations and schools, whether they are embarking on new projects or continuing with existing projects.