Amber Walls | The University of Auckland (original) (raw)

Amber Walls

Address: Auckland, New Zealand

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Papers by Amber Walls

Research paper thumbnail of ‘Looking for the blue, the yellow, all the colours of the rainbow’: the value of participatory arts for young people in social work practice

Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, Dec 23, 2016

INTRODUCTION: Emerging from a flourishing field of practice overseas, the growing evidence base f... more INTRODUCTION: Emerging from a flourishing field of practice overseas, the growing evidence base for participatory arts engagement demonstrates numerous benefits for young people's health and wellbeing. In Aotearoa New Zealand, participatory arts engagement is under-valued and under-resourced despite local practice examples suggesting that it deserves further attention. METHODS: Focusing on a case example from an Auckland-based creative arts participation project geared to promote the positive mental health and wellbeing of marginalised young people, two focus groups were conducted to explore how participants felt arts engagement contributed to their wellbeing. Participatory arts activities were integrated within the focus group process to enable creative expression of their voices. FINDINGS: The youth voices unearthed through this research indicate that an arts-based approach can be used as a powerful tool in promoting youth wellbeing and this offers a significant promise for addressing local policy priorities. CONCLUSION: We suggest that participatory arts engagement deserves further investment and research to explore further application in social practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Research paper thumbnail of Envision - A Handbook: Supporting Young People's Participation in Galleries and the Arts

Research paper thumbnail of Resourcing the arts for youth well-being: challenges in Aotearoa New Zealand

Arts & Health

This paper synthesises findings from two research projects with organisations involved in arts fo... more This paper synthesises findings from two research projects with organisations involved in arts for youth well-being. Since 2017, Aotearoa New Zealand’s government has recognised the importance of the arts for well-being. However, the sector in Aotearoa has historically lacked recognition and support and this paper identifies a number of challenges that remain entrenched in the funding system. Methods Study One used an online survey to understand the approaches, aspirations and challenges of 19 organisations involved in youth arts for well-being. Study Two used ethnographic methods with three youth arts organisations to explore their experiences of the funding and policy context. Results Specific aspects of the funding system in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, hinder the sustainable development of creatively rich, culturally responsive, inclusive and strengths-based practice that takes youth participation seriously. Conclusions New approaches to resourcing youth arts for well-being are needed to better support good practice and sector development. Free downloads: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/K97FVJR4DCJZYQZTFSCX/full?target=10.1080/17533015.2021.2017306

Research paper thumbnail of Envision - A Handbook: Supporting Young People's Participation in Galleries and the Arts

Research paper thumbnail of Who is Responsible? Neoliberal Discourses of Well-Being in Australia and New Zealand

Research paper thumbnail of ‘Looking for the blue, the yellow, all the colours of the rainbow’: the value of participatory arts for young people in social work practice

Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work

INTRODUCTION: Emerging from a flourishing field of practice overseas, the growing evidence base o... more INTRODUCTION: Emerging from a flourishing field of practice overseas, the growing evidence base on participatory arts engagement demonstrates numerous benefits for young people’s health and wellbeing. In Aotearoa New Zealand, participatory arts engagement is under-valued and under-resourced despite local practice examples suggesting it deserves further attention.METHODS: Focusing on a case example of an Auckland-based creative arts participation project geared to promote positive mental health and wellbeing of marginalised young people, two focus groups were conducted to explore how participants felt arts engagement contributed to their wellbeing. Participatory arts activities were integrated within the focus group process to enable creative expression of their voices.FINDINGS: The youth voices unearthed through this research indicate that an arts based approach can be used as a powerful tool in promoting youth wellbeing and offers significant promise to address local policy priorit...

Research paper thumbnail of ‘Looking for the blue, the yellow, all the colours of the rainbow’: the value of participatory arts for young people in social work practice

Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, Dec 23, 2016

INTRODUCTION: Emerging from a flourishing field of practice overseas, the growing evidence base f... more INTRODUCTION: Emerging from a flourishing field of practice overseas, the growing evidence base for participatory arts engagement demonstrates numerous benefits for young people's health and wellbeing. In Aotearoa New Zealand, participatory arts engagement is under-valued and under-resourced despite local practice examples suggesting that it deserves further attention. METHODS: Focusing on a case example from an Auckland-based creative arts participation project geared to promote the positive mental health and wellbeing of marginalised young people, two focus groups were conducted to explore how participants felt arts engagement contributed to their wellbeing. Participatory arts activities were integrated within the focus group process to enable creative expression of their voices. FINDINGS: The youth voices unearthed through this research indicate that an arts-based approach can be used as a powerful tool in promoting youth wellbeing and this offers a significant promise for addressing local policy priorities. CONCLUSION: We suggest that participatory arts engagement deserves further investment and research to explore further application in social practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Research paper thumbnail of Envision - A Handbook: Supporting Young People's Participation in Galleries and the Arts

Research paper thumbnail of Resourcing the arts for youth well-being: challenges in Aotearoa New Zealand

Arts & Health

This paper synthesises findings from two research projects with organisations involved in arts fo... more This paper synthesises findings from two research projects with organisations involved in arts for youth well-being. Since 2017, Aotearoa New Zealand’s government has recognised the importance of the arts for well-being. However, the sector in Aotearoa has historically lacked recognition and support and this paper identifies a number of challenges that remain entrenched in the funding system. Methods Study One used an online survey to understand the approaches, aspirations and challenges of 19 organisations involved in youth arts for well-being. Study Two used ethnographic methods with three youth arts organisations to explore their experiences of the funding and policy context. Results Specific aspects of the funding system in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, hinder the sustainable development of creatively rich, culturally responsive, inclusive and strengths-based practice that takes youth participation seriously. Conclusions New approaches to resourcing youth arts for well-being are needed to better support good practice and sector development. Free downloads: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/K97FVJR4DCJZYQZTFSCX/full?target=10.1080/17533015.2021.2017306

Research paper thumbnail of Envision - A Handbook: Supporting Young People's Participation in Galleries and the Arts

Research paper thumbnail of Who is Responsible? Neoliberal Discourses of Well-Being in Australia and New Zealand

Research paper thumbnail of ‘Looking for the blue, the yellow, all the colours of the rainbow’: the value of participatory arts for young people in social work practice

Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work

INTRODUCTION: Emerging from a flourishing field of practice overseas, the growing evidence base o... more INTRODUCTION: Emerging from a flourishing field of practice overseas, the growing evidence base on participatory arts engagement demonstrates numerous benefits for young people’s health and wellbeing. In Aotearoa New Zealand, participatory arts engagement is under-valued and under-resourced despite local practice examples suggesting it deserves further attention.METHODS: Focusing on a case example of an Auckland-based creative arts participation project geared to promote positive mental health and wellbeing of marginalised young people, two focus groups were conducted to explore how participants felt arts engagement contributed to their wellbeing. Participatory arts activities were integrated within the focus group process to enable creative expression of their voices.FINDINGS: The youth voices unearthed through this research indicate that an arts based approach can be used as a powerful tool in promoting youth wellbeing and offers significant promise to address local policy priorit...

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