Arts-Based Action Research
Gathering data and insights through creativity
This format combines co-creation with inquiry. Participants generate visual and narrative responses to research questions—providing rich qualitative (and sometimes quantitative) data. Useful for strategy, evaluation, and understanding group dynamics across sectors.
How It Can Be Applied
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Strategic planning
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Program evaluation
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Team or stakeholder alignment
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Policy insight
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Community-based research
How The Process Works
Process
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Participants help shape the research questions
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Creative formats are tailored to each group (e.g. writing, symbols, movement, sound)
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Participants choose what is shared publicly or kept private
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Individual artworks are paired with participant-generated quotes
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The creative process itself is recorded, revealing patterns in communication, leadership, and collaboration
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In some cases, participants co-design how findings are shared
Outputs
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Large-scale painting or digital mural for public or indoor display
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PDF/catalogue highlighting key themes and visual findings
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Short videos or audio reels featuring participant interviews
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Printable visual reports or engagement tools
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Optional NFT, with royalties shared among participants, partners, and organizers
Project Feature: Art In Just Recovery
Art In Just Recovery
Seventy participants used visual storytelling to explore what recovery means in the wake of COVID-19. Blending community art and research, this project examined how creative expression supports collective care and resilience.
Learn more about this project →
Past Collaborations
Our experience was amazing for the level of skill, engagement and passion for the project.
Bringing dreams to life takes dedication, and we felt ourselves in highly qualified hands to achieve our goals.
Noreen Allossery Walsh
Ursuline Sisters of Chatham
Working with Melanie is an absolute dream. Melanie is kind and sparkly, and has a quality about her that can only be described as magical. She is a dreamer, but also a doer, and that rare combo means that what she creates is infused with so much love and skill.
Michelle Peek
Founder, Art Not Shame
As an academic let me make clear that the value of the community experience in the process of collective art production cannot be measured. I see the huge benefits of this process of art co-creation for people in academia and beyond.
Gloria Perez
Professor, Mount Royal University
She was able to transform physical art into digital representations, enhancing the work so it works together as a whole while still preserving the individual contributions of each community artist.
Julie Ryan
Community Engagement Advisor,
Indwell
The community love, mindful hosting and deep engagement that I witnessed in how Melanie approaches social art projects was inspiring and illustrated connection through creativity.
Michelle Baldwin
Senior Advisor,
Community Foundations of Canada