Rural Engagement Arts Programme (REAP) - Round 1 Evaluation

Summary of findings

1. In Round 1 of the Rural Engagement Arts Programme (REAP), ACNI awarded £493,602 to 71 organisations across Northern Ireland. The key findings from an analysis of applications, End of Project Reports and a survey of unsuccessful applicants are that:
2. Social cohesion: 100% of grantees showed their project reduced isolation or promoted social inclusion. 86% of grantees said that all or part of the project was cross-community. 54% grantees said that all or part of the project was intergenerational.
3. Reducing isolation and promoting social inclusion was inherent in the work of most of the grantees. Grantees tended to work in a highly collaborative way in designing, marketing, and delivering projects.
   
4. The programme reached vulnerable people who would not seek help in a more direct form; an intensive activity that drew people back; a positive structure for cross community work; and an identification and often a celebration of the history and special nature of the place.
   
5. Projects enhanced wellbeing by: providing enjoyable creative activities which gave a sense of achievement and distracted participants from their worries with the feeling of flow and absorption; targeting people or groups who were isolated because of gaps in services of lack of transport; giving families time together including respite for carers; fostering interaction between participants, including social contact; producing an artwork that represented pride of place and an aspect of hope; and referring participants to other services or sources of support.
   
6. The contribution of the arts to wellbeing is well known and well evidenced. REAP simply extended these benefits to rural areas.
   
7. All grantees showed their project enhanced the wellbeing of participants or audience members. 60% of grantees said that the project included specific support for participants’ mental health.
   
8. 84% of the grantees said that volunteers helped to deliver the project. The total number of volunteers involved in the projects was 622.
   
9. 95% of the grantees said that artists were involved in delivering the project, with a total 308 artists employed. More than half of these live in a rural area.
   
10. 87% of grantees said their project included artist-led workshops with local people. 56% of these said that 90-100% of their participants attended three or more workshops. 97% of grantees said their project developed the skills of participants or audience members.
    
11. Access: 78% of grantees said that the project was free to all participants. 37% of grantees said that free transport was provided to grantees.
    
12. Quality: 92% grantees showed the grant allowed their organisation to deliver higher quality artistic work than they had delivered previously.
    
13. Additionality was high. 76% of grantees said their projects were new. 79% of grantees said they wouldn't have been able to deliver any of the project without ACNI funding.
    
14. Design: 98% of grantees said the REAP programme was a good fit with the project they wanted to deliver. 98% of grantees said the application form was easy to understand. 97% of grantees said they received the support from ACNI that they needed to complete their application. 100% of grantees said they would apply to REAP again.
    
15. Demand: 78% of grantees said the project increased their organisation’s interest in delivering arts projects in rural areas.