Artistic practice and excellence

How to: core approaches

When thinking about excellence of both product and practice, reflect on and define a range of approaches to quality of practice. Common elements found across the programme include integrity, resonance, originality, technical proficiency, ambition, magic and long-term impact.

Commissioning process that support equity and diversity can be designed by involving a diverse range of perspectives in the decision-making, support and progress monitoring and evaluation of projects, with arts professionals alongside community members sharing skills and knowledge.

Writing clear, precise briefs that leave room for flexibility and encourage risk-taking helps project delivery

Support artists to use their core skills, not to be quasi-social workers or carers.

Matching resource to ambition is crucial: shrinking budgets have at times compromised some CPP Places’ ambitions for realising large scale projects, and equally sometimes projects have expected too much from limited budgets. Be clear with artists and community members about budgets, practicalities (such as use of facilities) and any other parameters.

Select artists for their fit with particular roles, opportunities and communities, rather than because of their status as artist.

Design your evaluation methodology to reflect the nuance of what excellence means to you in your context, rather than any prescribed definitions. It can help to define your terms as Museums Northumberland bait did with their quality guidelines.

Dig deeper

• From Small Shifts to Profound Changes by Elizabeth Lynch and Miriam Nelken describes the impact of Creative People and Places on artist practice, with useful recommendations for boosting quality, equality and diversity.
• Evaluation in participatory arts programmes, edited by Sarah Davies shares a selection of practical approaches, models and methods developed across Creative People and Places 2013-2016