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The war from both sides : how Dutch and German visitors experience an exhibit of Second World War stories

At the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, questions arise if contemporary audiences still find historical accounts relevant. Fundamental to understanding the relevance of stories from the war is assessing their emotional impact on leisure participants from various social groups. We used the social identity theory framework to assess differences in emotional reactions of Dutch and German visitors to stories of the Second World War presented at a Dutch museum exhibit. Emotional reactions were measured using physiological signals of heart rate and heart rate variability as well as self-report. Emotions experienced were mixed and often, but not always, different between Dutch and German participants. Patterns in the physiological and self-report data differed. Many of the significant differences were generally consistent with a collective guilt account of German social identity, but the findings as a whole were more complex than could be predicted by existing social identity accounts. Specifically, participants did not simply categorize themselves with either national or human identities of characters based on what their respective stories emphasized. We conclude that stories of the Second World War are still relevant, but touch on audiences’ nationalities in a complex way, beyond simple historical categories.

Representation of good care in (photo)-stories

Humans use metaphors in thinking. Most metaphors are visual. In processing information stimuli the mind depends partly on visual codes. Information is processed and stored through two channels: one for non-verbal information and another for verbal information. The two different areas of information in the brain are interconnected. The information is stored in patterns that form an inner representation of how individuals perceive their reality and their self. The active processing of new information, remembering and the self-image are related phenomena, that influence each other, sometimes leading to biased interpretation or even reconstruction of contents in each of these areas. Imagination, expectations and anticipations of the future and memories are the more active manifestations of this process. In this process mimesis plays an important role. Mimesis is the imitation of reality in play, story-telling or creating images of how things should look like in the future. Through mimesis people can anticipate on roles in social life, or appropriate experiences from someone else and relate them to one’s own life story. When this happens the information is related to the self through processes of association and becomes ‘Erfahrung’.

SUSTAIN : making space for transitions in art that matter (English version)

The SUSTainable Artistic INnovation (SUSTAIN) project is a collaborative project between The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Avans University of Applied Sciences. The research was conducted by Jacco van Uden (professor Change Management) and Kim Caarls of The Hague University of Applied Sciences; and Godelieve Spaas (professor Common Economics), Olga Mink and Marga Rotteveel of Avans University of Applied Sciences. We also worked closely with six Spacemakers: Art Partner, Circus Andersom, Future of Work, In4Art, V2_ and Waag. SUSTAIN explores the role of Spacemakers: parties that want to contribute to systemic change by creating space for art in unusual places, such as within the economy, science or technology. The aim: to use art to work towards a sustainable and just society - ecologically, economically and socially. Expectations of what art can do in spheres other than the art world itself are sometimes high. For example, when we claim that art can be the engine of innovation and reflection. But experience shows: art is no panacea. Not everyone sees or recognises the added value of art in transition issues. And when art does come to the table, we do not always manage to make the disruption work. Artists explore the unknown, question what seems logical and connect seemingly disparate elements. It is precisely these qualities that are key to achieving systemic transitions. However, it is not always easy to access the spaces where artists want to make an impact. With this practical research, SUSTAIN offers more insight into the exact role, method and added value of Spacemakers in the transition to be made. The research and results contribute to the further professionalisation of this emerging sector. Just how Spacemaking practices are shaped by different organisations was examined: - Why do Spacemakers do what they do? - What do they see as the promise of art outside the arts? - How do they specifically go about making space for art? - How do Spacemakers deal with the tensions that arise when art gets involved in non-art matters and vice versa? - How do Spacemakers deal with the complicated question of the added value or impact of art and of themselves as space makers? SUSTAIN has produced two key outcomes: 1) The Spacemaker Toolbox, a practical tool for Spacemakers to explore and professionalise their work internally. It involves four models with instructions for use. 2) The Spacemaker Stories, a series of cahiers in which we look at Spacemaker practice from a distance and help Spacemakers articulate more clearly what they do, why they do it, how they do it and what value they create. The five cahiers are: The Calling (38 p.), The Promise of Art (39 p.), The Tension (49 p.), The Help (44 p.) and The Gift (30 p.).

Stories of Recovery and Participation. Experiences and challenges.

This publication is a result of an international research project which took place from 2012-2014. Among the participators were four universities, number of service providers, NGOs and people with psychiatric and learning disabilities from Amersfoort and Maastricht in the Netherlands, Budapest in Hungary and Tallinn in Estonia. The aim of the project was to explore the wishes and needs of persons with psychiatric or learning difficulties with regard to community participation, and how services could be (more) supportive in order to meet these needs. We also looked at local policies, especially from the perspective of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). From the research we learn that regardless of the country where people live, persons with disabilities have similar struggles to cope with vulnerability and deprivation. They also share the same desires as any other human being: the wish to live a good and valued life, to have meaningful activities and to belong to a social community. The stories in this book were selected from the interviews which were conducted by researchers during the project. The portraits illustrate experiences of illness, disability and recovery. They also reflect experiences of using social- and mental health services, exclusion and inclusion. By reading these stories we see, how multifaceted life can be, and what are the challenges towards the real participation in community

Stories that matter

SUSTAIN : making space for transitions in art that matter (Nederlandse versie)

Het project SUSTainable Artistic INnovation (SUSTAIN) is een samenwerkingsproject tussen de Haagse Hogeschool en Avans Hogeschool. Het onderzoek is uitgevoerd door Jacco van Uden (lector Verandermanagement) en Kim Caarls van De Haagse Hogeschool; en Godelieve Spaas (lector Gemeenschappelijke Economie), Olga Mink en Marga Rotteveel van Avans Hogeschool. Daarnaast hebben we nauw samengewerkt met zes Spacemakers: Art Partner, Circus Andersom, Future of Work, In4Art, V2_ en Waag. SUSTAIN onderzoekt de rol van Spacemakers: partijen die willen bijdragen aan systemische verandering door ruimte te creëren voor kunst op ongebruikelijke plekken, zoals binnen de economie, wetenschap of technologie. Het doel: met kunst werken aan een duurzame en rechtvaardige samenleving - ecologisch, economisch en sociaal. De verwachtingen van wat kunst kan betekenen in andere sferen dan de kunstwereld zelf zijn soms hooggespannen. Bijvoorbeeld wanneer we claimen dat kunst de motor van innovatie en reflectie kan zijn. Maar de ervaring leert: kunst is geen panacee. Niet iedereen ziet of erkent de meerwaarde van kunst bij transitievraagstukken. En wanneer kunst wel aan tafel komt, weten we de ontregeling niet altijd werkzaam te maken. Kunstenaars onderzoeken het onbekende, stellen vragen bij wat logisch lijkt en verbinden schijnbaar ongelijksoortige elementen. Juist die kwaliteiten zijn van groot belang voor het realiseren van systeemtransities. Het is echter niet altijd gemakkelijk om toegang te krijgen tot de ruimtes waar kunstenaars een impact willen hebben. Met dit praktijkonderzoek biedt SUSTAIN meer inzicht in de precieze rol, werkwijze en toegevoegde waarde van Spacemakers in de te maken transitie. Het onderzoek en de resultaten dragen bij aan de verdere professionalisering van deze opkomende sector. Onderzocht is hoe Spacemaking-praktijken door de verschillende organisaties worden vormgegeven: - Waarom doen Spacemakers wat ze doen? - Wat zien zij als de belofte van kunst buiten de kunsten? - Hoe gaan zij concreet te werk in het maken van ruimte voor kunst? - Hoe gaan Spacemakers om met de spanningen die ontstaan als kunst zich in niet-kunstzaken gaat mengen en andersom? - Hoe gaan Spacemakers om met de ingewikkelde vraag naar meerwaarde of impact van kunst én van zichzelf als ruimtemakers? SUSTAIN heeft twee belangrijke resultaten opgeleverd: 1) De Spacemaker Toolbox, een praktische tool voor Spacemakers om hun werk te verkennen en intern te professionaliseren. Het gaat om vier modellen met een gebruiksaanwijzing. 2) The Spacemaker Stories, een serie cahiers waarin we de Spacemaker praktijk van een afstand bekijken en Spacemakers helpen duidelijker te verwoorden wat ze doen, waarom ze het doen, hoe ze het doen en welke waarde ze creëren. De vijf cahiers zijn: De Roeping (38 p.), De Belofte van Kunst (39 p.), De Spanning (49 p.), De Hulp (44 p.) en De Gift (30 p.).