Contributing to Community Enhancement through Rural Touring Arts (CONCERTA)

CONCERTA is a national study of the benefits, for local community development, of a relatively under researched form of creative community activity: rural touring art. Co-designed by the National Rural Touring Forum and the Centre for Business in Society (CBiS) at Coventry University, CONCERTA has examined the contribution of rural touring arts to the development of different kinds of rural communities in England. The project assesses a range of socio-economic outcomes generated for individuals and local communities from rural touring activity. The main focus was on ‘soft outcomes’ – ranging from individual participation, skills, confidence and sense of wellbeing through to potentially enhanced community assets, activities and sense of place. It sought, also, to build from Matarasso’s (2004, 2005) foundational studies on rural touring, including if and how touring arts impacts are sustained through time. CONCERTA thus provides a national insight on the rural and social geography of arts participation and impact, acknowledging the diversity of countryside areas and (sub)populations. CONCERTA has sought to answer the research question: “What are the individual and community benefits of professional rural touring arts?”