Creative Practice for Social Change

Course Director: Thomas Arctaedius (Royal College of Music)

Please note that the number of participants in this course is limited to 20 students.

This course develops students’ knowledge and practical ability to apply entrepreneurship-based methods and processes for artistic creation in the development, implementation, and critical evaluation of interdisciplinary projects spanning art, social change, and sustainable enterprise.

It is intended for students with an artistic or creative practice of their own, including at an amateur level, and takes this practice as a point of departure for the work undertaken throughout the course.

The course is characterized by creativity, interaction, experimentation, and practice-based learning. Students are introduced to entrepreneurship-based methods and creative processes that support the development of artistic work from initial idea to implementation.

By bringing artistic practice into dialogue with theories of artivism (art activism) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the course examines how artistic practice can contribute to the creation of cultural and societal value.

Particular attention is given to the relationship between artistic integrity and social value, as well as to the role of the artist as an agent of change.

The course includes:

• lectures and independent study of course literature
• guest sessions presenting examples of best practice, together with reflection and discussion
• group-based project work in which students develop a plan for an artistic and interdisciplinary project

Course Administrator: marianne.castren@sses.se

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

1. Apply methods for business modelling and pitching that are appropriate for projects grounded in artistic or creative practice and that combine artistic objectives with activism and sustainability
2. Explain the concept of artivism, its different forms of expression, and its role in challenging power structures and contributing to social change
3. Demonstrate knowledge of theories of change and other established approaches, such as SROI (Social Return on Investment), for defining and assessing intangible and social value in entrepreneurship-based artistic projects
4. Work collaboratively to plan and formulate an interdisciplinary project, using “translation” – the process of moving from idea to sketch or action – as a method for turning artistic visions into feasible activities
5. Apply the Impact Value Chain (Input → Activity → Output → Outcome → Impact) to structure and communicate the anticipated societal value of a project to funders and other stakeholders
6. Reflect on the possibilities and potential impact of their own artistic and interdisciplinary practice within a broader societal context
7. Critically examine the tension between the intrinsic value of art and expectations of measurable benefit or social impact
8. Reflect on their own role as an artist and potential activist, and on how personal values relating to social, environmental, and economic sustainability can be translated into practical action through artistic practice

Bachelor Degree worth at least 120 credits or equivalent.

The examination consists of both individual (50%) and group (50%) assessments.

Students will be required to satisfactory complete all of the course assessments in order to receive a passing grade.

Find the course schedule in TimeEdit

Have you been granted educational support because of a documented disability? If so, please contact the course director as soon as possible so that adequate accommodations can be made.

Contact specialneeds@hhs.se if you have questions about being granted educational support or need a copy of your educational support certificate.

For more information, visit the Specific Educational Needs page on the Student Hub (login required).