Journals Information
International Journal of Social Work and Human Services Practice(CEASE PUBLICATION) Vol. 4(5), pp. 97 - 103
DOI: 10.13189/ijrh.2016.040501
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Cultivating Humanizing Change Imagination, Creativity and Collaboration
Anne Riggs *
Artists in Community International, Melbourne, Australia
ABSTRACT
Imagination, creativity, and collaboration are essential in cultivating humane and positive change in the lives of people who exist, largely un-noticed and uncared for, at the fringes of society. Without them, it is impossible to effect meaningful and beneficial change. In 2015 and 2016, Artists in Community International was invited to collaborate with social, child protection and health workers trying to provide services in the brick kilns and surrounding communities in rural Nepal. A culture of mistrust between the brick kiln workers and service providers had prevented the delivery of much needed services into these harsh working environments. We were invited to help build trust, develop community relationships, and contribute to raising community awareness around education and social, health and hygiene issues. It was an invitation to help improve the lives of people living and working in and around the brick kilns - extremely bleak environments that generate a myriad of health and social problems. This paper uses those recent projects to discuss how igniting the imagination through arts practice and interactions with artists can transform despair into possibility, then humane and positive change, particularly for those who believe none is available to them. We are offering this as a model for developing more collaboration between social and community workers with artists to cultivate humanizing change wherever it is needed.
KEYWORDS
Art, Community, Nepal, Brick Kilns
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Anne Riggs , "Cultivating Humanizing Change Imagination, Creativity and Collaboration," International Journal of Social Work and Human Services Practice(CEASE PUBLICATION), Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 97 - 103, 2016. DOI: 10.13189/ijrh.2016.040501.
(b). APA Format:
Anne Riggs (2016). Cultivating Humanizing Change Imagination, Creativity and Collaboration. International Journal of Social Work and Human Services Practice(CEASE PUBLICATION), 4(5), 97 - 103. DOI: 10.13189/ijrh.2016.040501.