Action-based research in urban communities
As an artist and curatorial practitioner, my research projects with urban communities are undertaken through an action research methodology, defined by author and educational academic Ernest Stringer as a “process of inquiry based on a practitioner’s reflections on his or her professional practices” (2014, p. XV). In gaining a deeper understanding of how to curate inclusive cities, my arts-based projects are undertaken through the development of action-based research where specific urban community groups are encouraged to reflect upon and thereby deepen their understandings of their relationships with place. In my case, this research resulted in a co-created artistic public project, discussed via three case studies in this chapter: Belonging and the Transient Home (2016), The Anonymous Sojourners in the Australian Bush (2017) and Far Flung: Connecting Intergenerational Families (2016).
Stringer acknowledges that through practice, knowledge and experience present themselves, but “practitioners can remain locked into perceptions and interpretations of a situation, … [and] fail to take into account the varied worldviews and life experiences of the people with whom they work” (2014, p. XV). To take into account varied perspectives, the action research methodology introduces the reflective element, which can allow a practitioner and the community to reflect, critique, assess and improve upon problem-solving methods. In the case of curating inclusive cities, the contributions of community participants, collaborating artists and organisational partners are actively valued. Therefore, through inclusive curation, the voices of marginalised urban communities are cared for.
Action research also takes into account how “all people affected by or having an effect on an issue should be involved in the process of inquiry. … In these circumstances the task of the practitioner researcher is to provide guidance and support to other participants or stakeholders in the research process” (2014, p. XV-XVI). This democratic approach to opening up the process of research inquiry aligns with understanding and valuing community knowledge, placing community voices at the centre of the research process. To reiterate, it is an inclusive methodology: In the context of curating inclusive cities, action-based research leverages the public platform of curation to amplify often marginalised immigrant urban community voices and therefore contribute toward public representations and dialogue.
The Action Research Planner (Kemmis & McTaggart, 1981) identifies the key stages of action research enacted in a repeating cycle. These stages are identified as:
To develop
In the early stages of developing a ‘curating inclusive cities’ project, an urban community group is identified as a potential collaborative partner on a co-created artistic project which focuses on an aspect of their community experience. As co-learners in the project, a site analysis of the place and community is undertaken by the researchers to understand what the relationship is between the participating community and the place. The action researchers also take into consideration what is learned in earlier projects.
Place is considered from the perspective of an expanded idea of space, or ‘third space’ as defined by geographer Edward Soja (1995), which focuses on the relationship between ‘spatiality-historicality-sociality’. Place and community are assessed and considered in relationship to the historical uses of the place, the current uses and even imagined future uses (and thus creative re-imaginings) to gain an understanding of where the community fits within the particular location. Examining ‘place’ in a community is often challenging for new immigrants in Australian society due to their transnational status and should be publicly addressed, the main premise of my action-based research projects.
Historical and theoretical positions at this point are also taken into consideration to inform the design of the project. Based on this site analysis, a plan of action is developed to consider what the community can express about their unique circumstance.
To act:
The project, while taking into consideration local conditions, is enacted with the community and attempts to co-create an output that represents an aspect of community voices.
To observe
During the process of acting, observations of the project are made and documented to gain a sense of the experiences of those enacting the research, including the researcher, participants, collaborating artists and partners.
To reflect
At the outcome of the process, time for reflection is highly important, as it helps all researchers to consider the process enacted, what was learned, and how theoretical and historical positions impacted the presented narrative. These reflections, critiques and analyses are considered further to support the research team to refine future methodologies and processes.
In considering the action research process, I will discuss the three aforementioned case studies to examine these processes.