Arts and Culture for Development (ACD) encompasses a wide range of arts projects that aim to change attitudes and behaviours in society. They can help people to express their views, empower excluded groups to participate in society, facilitate dialogue between different groups and affect policy and practice at the highest levels of government. ACD projects often address key developmental goals through directly exploring issues such as health, science and the environment, education, human rights, good governance, participation in democracy, race, gender and disability. However, they can also indirectly affect attitudes and policy simply by working with excluded or marginalised groups.
Jon Morgan, Arts and Culture for Development Consultant
There is a lot of well-developed ACD practice around the world, funded by various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and governmental bodies, involving both UK and indigenous practitioners. The British Council has undertaken some of this work and is in a unique position to contribute further in its dual role as a cultural organisation and a development agency.
To date our work in this area has covered music, dance and drama. Drama work has included David Glass Ensemble’s The Lost Child theatre projects with young people dealing with loss or disempowerment. The project took place from the Far East to South America and engaged with children affected by war, homelessness and child prostitution.
Other examples include CandoCo Dance Company leading ground-breaking workshops for disabled and non-disabled people in Sri Lanka and Romania, and Ludus Dance Company's community workshops in Colombia aimed at preventing teenage pregnancy through physical media and interaction.
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