Project name: Artscape Resource Centre Evaluation
Client: Artscape
Project duration: March – June 2007
Service: Research, evaluation

"I contracted CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS because of their good track record in delivering a professional marketing and communication service. The Resource Centre is very unique and CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENTWORKS has, for the past two years, developed the image and brand very clearly. CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS' clear understanding of the need for the development of marginalised communities and artists enabled Artscape to make the vision of the Resource Centre for “sustainable development of artists” a reality. (Marlene Le Roux, Director, Artscape)

CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS has had a long-standing working relationship with Artscape, providing support for the implementation, planning, fundraising and marketing of Artscape projects since 2003. In March 2007, technical assistance came in the form of a process evaluation of the Skills Development Programme offered by the Artscape Resource Centre.

The objectives of the Skills Development Programme were:

•    To provide training, and build skills and capacity of the learners

•    To provide appropriate and effective training that meets the needs of the arts and culture sector and workplace

•    To establish a collaborative relationship with the Media, Advertising, Publishing, Printing and Packaging Sector Education Training Authority     (MAPPP-Seta) in implementing the programme

•    To establish a partnership relationship with the proposed lead service provider in ensuring that effective and accredited training is provided

•    To equip learners with viable and necessary skills that they can utilise within the arts and culture sector

Various training programmes were offered to build skills and capacity of individuals active in the arts and culture sector. These included project and finance administration, events management, marketing and computing. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the impact and effectiveness of the Skills Development Programme in meeting these objectives.

The CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS team used focus groups as part of a qualitative research approach to capturing the artists’ perceptions and experiences of the training programmes. In addition, CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS’ sound methodological approach included:

•    Desktop research

•    Fieldwork in the form of focus groups, as well as one-on-one interviews with Resource Centre stakeholders

•    Administering an evaluation survey to all participants within the training programme

•    Compiling a report with recommendations

Critical analysis of the communication, programme design and programme implementation of the training courses was employed to inform effectiveness of the Programme in meeting the needs of emerging artists. The outcomes of the evaluation, based on the recommendations, highlight the importance of strengthening and enhancing skills development programmes. This ensures that the needs of those benefiting from the programmes are met and that skills transfer and capacity building in the development of young artists is assured.

“Whoever works with CREATIVE CONSULTING & DEVELOPMENT WORKS will definitely be happy with the way they do things, always working with the clients as part of sustainable development and capacity building. Their service is more than what one would expect in our industry.” (Mzwakhe Mdidimba, Resource Centre Manager, Artscape)