Introduction to Social Inclusion and Art

Key Points:

• Empowerment through Art: Art helps marginalized individuals feel seen and valued by reflecting their experiences and identities in public and creative spaces​.

• Creating Accessible Art Spaces: Inclusivity requires designing art activities and environments where everyone can participate, regardless of ability.
• Building Community and Reducing Stigma: By engaging with diverse art forms, participants can challenge societal biases and contribute to stronger community bonds.

Inclusion Tools of art

Art and design can meaningfully contribute to social change. It can shift debates, change perspectives, raise awareness, and act upon visible and invisible mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion of different agents occupying the public sphere. In this thematic issue we invited authors to relate to this claim as they preferred: by bringing evidence to support it, refute it, or simply to discuss the potential benefits and harms of artistically inspired and design related interventions in citizens’ living environment. We challenged authors to rethink agency and engage theoretically or empirically with how art and design installations act upon us, citizens, and vice‐versa. The result is a compilation of different storylines, coming from different geographical parts of the world and written from a variety of cultural perspectives. What binds these contributions is a true commitment to open a space for those experiencing challenging life circumstances to access, occupy, or transform the public sphere. Our collective engagement with concepts such as power, prejudice, harassment or discrimination was not focused on erasing differences. Instead, we engaged with the idea that certain differences should matter less than they currently do in creating a safe and accessible public space for all.

Impacts of the arts on social inclusion

As discussed above, social exclusion refers to the complex or ‘multiplier’ effects of social and economic disadvantage. While the importance of responding to social exclusion is increasingly accepted amongst policymakers, practitioners and academics, there is limited consensus around the actual indicators of social inclusion. In this review, I will draw on an adaptation of Long et al. (2002), whose work on dimensions of social inclusion through culture, media and sport in the UK has identified seven indicators of social inclusion outcomes as:

• improved educational performance and participation1
• increased employment rates
• reduced levels of crime
• better (and more equal) standards of health
• enhanced personal development
• improved social cohesion and reduced social isolation2 
• active citizenship. 

Improved educational performance

The relationship between educational attainment and participation in the arts has been widely debated by the academic community (Matarasso 1997). The present review of the literature revealed a fairly limited, yet generally positive account of the relationship between performance and retention in formal education and participation in the arts. In an evaluation involving a random selection of participants in a ‘learning by art’ program implemented within more than 30 schools in Portsmouth, England, Matarasso found that participating in the arts had a positive impact on the educational performance of three out of every four children.

Improved social cohesion and reduced social isolation

Social capital theory suggests that the strength and diversity of personal and community networks is a significant feature of resilient communities. At an individual level, people with diverse personal networks have been found to be in relatively better physical and mental health, have higher sustained levels of education and employment and greater sources of social support than those with very limited networks. At a community level, communities with higher aggregate levels of social capital are more likely to exhibit features of community self-reliance and have greater access to diverse resources, thus being able to respond to the structural and historical effects of exclusion.

Art and design play a crucial role in promoting diversity and inclusivity. Through the creative expression of different perspectives, art and design can help challenge and break down stereotypes, provide a platform for marginalized voices, and foster understanding and empathy among other groups.

In an increasingly interconnected and diverse world, art and design are more important than ever to reflect and celebrate this diversity. Art and design can provide a visual language for exploring and expressing the complexities of identity, culture, and experience. By showcasing the work of diverse artists and designers, we can expand our understanding of the world and challenge our own biases and preconceptions.

Furthermore, art and design can serve as a catalyst for positive social change. Through the power of storytelling and visual communication, art and design can inspire and mobilize people to take action on important issues such as racism, discrimination, and inequality. Artists and designers can play a vital role in promoting diversity and inclusion by using their platforms to amplify marginalized voices and raise awareness about pressing social issues. Art and design are essential for promoting diversity and inclusivity. By providing a platform for diverse perspectives and experiences, art and design can challenge stereotypes, foster understanding, and inspire positive social change. We can create a more inclusive and equitable world by supporting and celebrating diverse artists and designers.