Creative Regeneration - lessons from ten community arts projectsby Tim Dwelly (The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2001, ISBN 1 85935 065 8, £12.95 [£16.19 inc p&p] At a time when the role of Arts in Regeneration seems to be an increasing concern of Local Authorities and artists alike, this practical guide celebrates an impressive range of initiatives taking place in Wales and presents an encouraging overview of hugely diverse activity in a region identified by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation as leading the way in creative regeneration. Ten very varied projects, including a community recording studio in an isolated housing estate, an accessible mobile darkroom project which tours remote rural locations and the impressive community business focussed Arts Factory in The Rhondda, are described in sufficient detail for the reader to gain invaluable insights into good practice, based on years of hard work in testing situations. The book makes a welcome contribution to the strong and growing body of hard evidence for the effectiveness of arts-based approaches and clear lessons emerge from the projects described about the need for extensive consultation, genuine ownership and participation, effective and careful communication and, especially, the importance of recruiting artists and project workers from the community. The two page summary of key recommendations for effective community arts practice is as useful and succinct a guide as anything I’ve read. A clear layout guides the casual reader to concise summaries of barriers faced, lists of achievements and importantly, very realistic ‘dos and don’ts’ and a refreshingly honest appraisal of failures as well as successes provides signposts for action that community artists should wisely take notice of.
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