Democratising the arts, increasing cultural participation, and improving well-being.
The link between cultural participation, health and happiness is becoming increasingly evidenced. Being able to express our cultural identities, both as individuals and together as collectives of diverse communities, are essential parts of being human.
Today, despite technology making us more connected than ever before, we are living in what has been termed “a loneliness epidemic.” This is even more true in marginalised and under supported communities. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
SeeThrough Theatre Company’s work has shown that, given the right platforms and opportunities to produce culture and express themselves, people are only too keen to engage and connect with each other. And when they do, as the participants themselves will testify, there is no greater contributor to improvements in physical and mental well-being, even in some of the most challenging environments.
Through a mix of practical experience and academic research, we have developed four founding principles that underpin SeeThrough’s vision for democratising the arts to increase cultural participation and enrich people’s lives and the societies in which we live. These four principles are:
Valuing diversity & inclusion. We all have unique stories to tell.
In coming together to tell our stories we learn things about ourselves as well as others. A practical value in diversity emerges that helps to disrupt the stigmatising discourses that can marginalise certain parts of the community and stop them from becoming active producers of culture.
Sharing ownership and producing culture on our own terms.
A significant part of each of our projects is determined by the participants themselves. It is important that they take ownership of their work and are recognised - both within themselves and among friends, family and the wider public - as valid producers of culture on their own terms.
Believing we are all capable of producing culture and being critical thinkers.
We are constantly in awe of the words of wisdom and displays of skills that emerge from people during our projects. These are often from people who in different contexts are too easily forgotten or ignored without the confidence or platforms for them to speak out. Not hearing their voices means society is missing out.
Offering a variety of ways to engage with our projects.
There is no one-size fits all to cultural participation. Some people like to take a leading role while others prefer to help from the sidelines. They are equally valid forms of participation and often we find people will start from the sidelines and work there way into the project as their confidence increases, and sometimes vice versa too.
“It makes you feel good because you are with one another. It is like a community, you know. As you get older, people seem to forget you are there. I don’t want this to happen with me. I want to be there, to be somewhere!”