Lived experiences in community arts in Ireland: an  autoethnographic and ethnographic, practice-based study

This practice-based study is a qualitative exploration of individual and collective arts experiences in Ireland through the lens of my arts practice as a performing artist and community music educator. This investigation fills an important research gap by uncovering knowledge of first-hand experiences in participatory arts in the amateur and voluntary arts sector in Ireland. It is widely recognised that generalisations about the benefits of the arts in public policy funding contexts have yet to be substantiated with accounts of first-hand experience of arts engagement. In addition, there is a paucity of research in the amateur and voluntary arts sector. 

My specific research focus, throughout this thesis, is on my personal musical life journey, intertwined with the stories of school and community groups with whom I interact in my community music and performance practice. This study focuses primarily on extra-curricular musical theatre and community musical theatre projects, alongside additional singing and creative writing projects. Research participants include secondary school students and teachers, and members of community groups. I engage with a mixed methodological research approach, incorporating autoethnography, ethnography and narrative inquiry. 

Outputs in the practice strand of the PhD include design and analysis of two performances as evidence of the research inquiry. ‘Connected, a musical ethnodrama’ is a collaborative writing and performance project with secondary school students.‘The Long Road Home’ is a musical autoethnography. The songs and stories in this performance work represent my musical life journey combined with resonant arts experiences, memories and reflections of research participants. 

Emergent themes reveal that arts participation creates a space for building strong friendships and connections; musical activity is hugely supported by voluntary work; overcoming inherent challenges builds resilience; and audience reaction and appreciation is highly valued by performers, and contributes to a sense of pride and achievement.