This is an early draft of questions that can be asked of projects to see the level of benefit to the arts organization, to the community, and the commitment to substantive engagement.
#'s = weighting of answers
Audience Development/Audience Engagement
How clearly is/are the target audience/individuals defined?
Unknown: 0
Not defined: 0
Generally understood: 2
With some specificity: 3
Very well defined: 4
To what extent are the interests of target individuals considered in
Program content
Location of the program
Time/day of the program
Marketing/communication about the program
Unknown: 0
Not at all: 0
A little: 2
Some-more than two contacts: 3
Greatly: 4
On what level of communication with the target audience/individuals are these decisions based?
Unknown: 0
None: 0
Surveys: 2
Focus Groups: 3
New Relationship: 4
Long-standing Relationship: 5
In what categories are organizational goals for the program sought? Indicate all that apply
Ticket sales/attendance
Donations
Grants/Corporate contributions
Advocacy
Community/audience/individual relationships
Other:
How important to the organization are the goals in each category (above)?
Unknown: 0
Marginally: 1
Somewhat: 2
Considerably: 3
Extremely: 4
What is the (realistic) time frame for measuring results in each category?
N/A
Three months: 0
Six months: 1
One year: 2
Two years: 3
Five years: 4
Are elements of the project specifically designed to result in any of the following for the target audience/individuals? (Select highest applicable value)
Education
No
Greater awareness of your organization: 1
Greater understanding of individual works of art: 2
Greater understanding of an art form: 2
Participation
No
Experience in program curation: 4
Experience in performance/production of artistic product: 8
Experience in creation/co-creation of work of art: 8
If honest answers to these last two questions do not yield at least 8 points,
there is little reason to go on to the Community Engagement questions.
To what extent is a deepened understanding of the target audience/individuals an important organizational goal for this project?
Unknown: 0
None/Minimal: 0
Somewhat: 4
Considerable: 6
Vital: 8
To what extent is an organizational desire to be of service to one or more external communities or target audiences an important motivation for this project?
Unknown: 0
None/Minimal: 0
Somewhat: 4
Considerable: 6
Vital: 8
Community Engagement
PRE-EXISTING RELATIONSHIP
How clearly is/are the participating communit(y)(ies) defined?
Unknown: 0
Not defined: 0
Generally understood: 2
With some specificity: 3
Very well defined: 4
How long-standing is/are the relationship(s) with the participating communit(y)(ies)?
Unknown: 0
None before project planning: 0
1-2 months before project planning: 2
2-4 months before project planning: 4
6 months to one year before project planning: 6
1 or more years before project planning: 8
How deep is/are the relationship(s) with the participating communit(y)(ies)?
#/% involved
Unknown: 0
None: 0
Small group: 2
Several groups: 4
Several groups: 5
Significant %: 6
Nearly all: 8
Enthusiasm for relationship on part of participating communit(y)(ies)/on the part of your organization?
Unknown: 0
None observed: 0
Little: 2
Moderate: 3
High enthusiasm: 4
Organization’s depth of understanding of community assets-interests-issues
Unknown: 0
None: 0
Little: 2
Moderate on the part of some: 4
Moderate on the part of many: 6
Considerable: 8
Extremely deep: 10
Communit(y)(ies)’s depth of understanding of organization’s assets-interests-issues
Unknown: 0
None: 0
Little: 1
Moderate: 2
Significant: 4
MUTUAL BENEFIT
(Note: If there is no community-recognized benefit of the project, this is not a community engagement project)
Is the only benefit to the community financial? [Yes: 1/No: 4]
Answer the following only if you answered NO above
How well articulated/understood are community-selected goals for the project?
Unknown: 0
Not at all/No project goals: 0
Minimally: 2
Moderately: 4
Very well: 6
Clearly, with measurable outcomes: 8
To what extent does the project meet community goals?
Unknown: 0
Not at all/No project goals: 0
Minimally: 2
Moderately: 4
Very well: 6
Thoroughly: 8
How well articulated/understood are the organizational goals for the project?
Unknown: 0
Not at all/No project goals: 0
Minimally: 2
Moderately: 4
Very well: 6
Clearly, with measurable outcomes: 8
To what extent does the project further organizational mission and meet project goals?
Unknown: 0
Not at all/No project goals: 0
Minimally: 2
Moderately: 4
Very well: 6
Thoroughly: 8
To what extent does project fulfill stated organizational mission and goals re: community engagement?
Mission & Goals
Unknown: 0
Not at all/No relevant organizational goals: 0
A little: 2
Somewhat: 3
Greatly: 4
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN/IMPLEMENTATION
At what point in the planning/development did the participating communit(y)(ies) begin to contribute to project design?
Unknown: 0
Never: 0
Near the end of project development: 1
Half-way through project development: 3
Shortly after beginning of project development: 4
Upon deciding to do project: 5
From the beginning (including developing idea to do a project): 8
Was/Were the communit(y)(ies) involved in:
Selecting Programming [No: 0/Yes: 4]
Marketing Efforts [No: 0/Yes: 2]
Production/Participation Details [No: 0/Yes: 6]
Developing Post-Event Relationship Maintenance Plans [No: 0/Yes: 6]
RELATIONSHIP MAINTENANCE PLAN
How clearly detailed are the organization’s post-project plans for maintaining the relationships with the participating community(ies)?
Unknown: 0
Not at all: 0
Preliminary ideas have been discussed: 2
Some plans have been made: 4
Explicit steps and responsibilities are established: 8