Making space: social engaged art and community in support of people experiencing homelessness

Abstract

My thesis extends knowledge and approaches to enhance public recognition, community engagement, and inclusion for homeless adults through my socially engaged practice, Making Space, with the homelessness charity Trinity Winchester.

My strategies initiate inclusive cultural discourse by opening Trinity Winchester’s doors to local artists and students. I recruit 'community connectors' (Russell and McKnight, 2022) to build a dynamic workshop network that promotes dialogue, idea exchange, and connect with the broader community.

This research shifts dominant discourses around homelessness by highlighting the untapped creativity of homeless individuals. It extends the discussion on how space is not merely physical but is also socially produced, shaped by social relations, economic systems, political structures, and cultural practices (Lefebvre, 2015). This concept becomes crucial in collaborative art for people battling barriers to inclusion, access to resources, and control over their social identity, which are issues under-discussed in current discourses.

My interventions demonstrate that spaces created through collaborative art engagement are essential for bridging the divide between homeless co-authors and a broader audience. By expanding networks of care (Conradson, 2003) and emphasising empowerment over containment (Parsell, 2023), my work nurtures inclusive platforms and accessibility. This initiative embodies gentle activism, challenging conventions and redefining societal usefulness. It rejects a "homeless identity" and supports the exploration of positive, evolving identities through community-based social practice.

Enriching societal understanding of homeless individuals' experiences and aspirations, Making Space promotes grassroots decision-making and cultural exchange. By facilitating the passions and authentic narratives of people experiencing homelessness, my research aims to celebrate their stories rather than try to fix perceived deficits. In this way, it empowers individuals to find their own sustainable solutions.

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Identifiers

ORCID for Alastair Lennox Eales: orcid.org/0000-0002-2802-0332

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