Milk Crate Theatre launches Impact Report: "The Arts and Collective Crisis"
Image by: Patrick Boland
Milk Crate Theatre is proud to present its latest Impact Report, The Arts and Collective Crisis, which explores the pivotal role of creative practice in building collective resilience during times of crisis. This report advocates for the recognition of the community-engaged arts sector as an essential part of the broader solutions needed to address collective challenges.
Through direct engagement with the Milk Crate Theatre community—including interviews, surveys, and a detailed case study on the Sydney suburb of Waterloo—we highlight the transformative power of creative initiatives in fostering connection, resilience, and a sense of escape during challenging times. Insights from a local service provider and relevant research, both from Australia and internationally, further underscore the importance of creative engagement as a tool for strengthening communities.
Milk Crate Theatre works with communities experiencing complex challenges, including homelessness, mental illness, and disability. A significant portion of our community relies on Centrelink as their primary source of income and faces ongoing housing stress. The current cost-of-living crisis has intensified these challenges, underscoring the need for creative programs that provide meaningful support during difficult times.
In this report, Milk Crate Theatre calls for:
Diverse Funding Models: Creating more varied funding opportunities for arts initiatives that serve as vital spaces for community connection and growth.
Outcome-Based Impact Assessment: Shifting the focus from numerical data to qualitative, outcome-based measures that better reflect the real-world impact of arts programs on communities.
International Collaboration: Drawing inspiration from global models to inform the development of arts and healthcare initiatives within Australia.
Greater Visibility: Increasing the recognition and support of community-engaged arts among funders and audiences to amplify the voices of artists from diverse backgrounds.
By embracing these strategies, we can ensure that community-driven arts organisations like Milk Crate Theatre continue to support Australia’s most vulnerable communities during times of crisis.
We invite you to explore the full report and encourage you to reach out to Jessica Pantano, Impact Manager for any questions or further information.
Comments