Researchers are calling for artists and arts enablers to be involved in a new study of peer coaching at The University of Queensland.
Chief investigator Dr Kate Power from UQ’s Business School said she is working closely with arts organisations to develop a new Peer Coaching Guide for Australia’s arts and culture sector, to help rebuild business and artistic practices devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Peer coaching is used widely in education and business, and there is strong evidence suggesting it provides a low-cost, high-impact tool for building collaboration and resilience. But we have a limited understanding about the impact of peer-coaching in the arts and culture sector,” said Dr Power.
“Peer coaching models designed for business may not address the needs and concerns of artists and arts enablers. I’m researching this area to provide practical support for Australian artists and arts organisations – particularly independent artists and small-to-medium companies, who have been hit hardest by COVID-10.”
Dr Power’s research is supported by an 18-month Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship (AQIRF) provided by the Queensland Government, and relies on collaboration with industry partners ArtsNexus, La Boite Theatre, and Queensland Ballet.
This is the first study to work closely with arts organisations to evaluate the impact of peer coaching, and to co-design a Peer-Coaching Guide that is both theoretically informed and empirically tested.
Read more: Pioneering new theatre program pilots peer-coaching
Dr Power is calling on the sector to participate in a research study titled Creating out loud: Developing sustainable peer-mentoring to rebuild the arts post COVID-19. The purpose of this study is to develop a theoretically-informed, empirically-tested, sustainable guide to peer-coaching in the arts.
It is hoped that, by promoting and facilitating peer-coaching, this study will help boost capacity, collaboration, resilience, and well-being across the sector. Participants are being asked to:
- Complete a survey: Tell the research team about your past experiences with mentoring / coaching, and what you think needs to be included in a new peer-coaching program for the arts and culture sector.
- Join a peer-coaching circle: Get together with other artists and/or arts managers: meet new people, expand your network, discuss your own projects and issues facing the sector; give and receive peer support.
For more information about the Creating Out Loud Peer-Coaching Guide, to complete a survey, or express interest in joining a peer-coaching circle, visit: creatingoutloud.business.uq.edu.au for details.
Image: Dr Kate Power (centre) with participants from La Boite Theatre Company (supplied)