FOOTPRINTS: News Update (posted 8th Dec 2009)

We are actively seeking participants for our ‘Kindred’ Action Research Group.

The ‘Kindred’ participants will focus on family audiences: their specific needs, their interests, their relationships to Tramway and its programme.  The research will help Tramway to better communicate with this group and provide exciting and engaging contemporary visual and performing arts experiences for them.

Are you a parent or guardian with young children?

Would you like to explore contemporary visual and performing arts? 

We are looking for around 20 participants to join us on a learning journey exploring Tramway, it’s programme and your relationship to it. In exchange Tramway are offering participants free tickets to Tramway events, and the opportunity to speak directly to Tramway staff about their thoughts and opinions.

Read the FAQs below for more information on the participants’ role in the project.

If this project sounds like something you would like to know more about, or if you want to take part as a research participant, get in touch.

Rosemary James, Audience Engagement Officer

Email: rosemary@tramwayfootprints.org.uk

Tel: 0845 330 3501

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Action Research?
Action Research is both a learning process and a method of recording engagement and action.  Active investigation is followed by reflection, and prompts more questions.  In practice this will mean exploring, for example, the space that is Tramway, or the role of the arts in our lives, discussing this and then forming new ideas.  These ideas will be presented to the Tramway staff at the end of the process.

2. How much time will I be asked to contribute?
After engaging with the initial questions, if you want to you can come to four face-to-face meetings at the Tramway, these will be around two and half hours long and will be spaced through two months and held at times convenient to the group.

3. What do I get out of this?
The project is an opportunity to learn and research with Tramway, looking at Tramway’s role in our community and your lives.  Learning more about Tramway and the arts will be an interesting journey.  The project has been set up to hear your voice, so you will have an unprecedented opportunity to meet and speak to Tramway staff and management.  Free tickets to Tramway events will be provided to you to help you experience what happens at Tramway, and to say thank you.

4. What does Tramway get out of this?
Footprints aims to facilitate greater communication and participation
between Tramway and you, its audience.  Your ideas and understanding of Tramway will help staff engage with, and understand audiences and will influence programming, marketing and communications initiatives to better meet the needs of the public.

5. What will happen at the end of the project?
After each group has had the opportunity to draw together what they have found and present it to the Tramway staff, the information and ideas generated throughout the project will be written up into a report.  All participants will have the opportunity to look through what has been written before publication.

6. Who is involved in the project?

To find out more about our Action Research Consultant Sam Harrison, who is leading the action research element of this project, visit the Contact section of the website. There you will find a short biography and contact details for him and the other individuals involved in this project.

7. How can I find out more?

Contact Rosemary James, Audience Engagement Officer, by email (rosemary@tramwayfootprints.org.uk), call her on 0845 330 3501, or visit the project website (www.tramwayfootprints.org.uk). She will be happy to answer any questions you may have, however small.