The power of art: Examining the long-term effect of arts-based interventions in education and working life

Abstract

This article explores the long-term impact of a one-year, 160-hour, part-time University course, exemplifying how art-based interventions help foster competencies in participants inside working life and participants out of work. The course was ambitious with its threefold goals: “Increased creativity and acquisition of new skills,” “Cultivating personal and leadership character” and “Using arts-based learning approaches when conducting development projects at suited workplaces.” Data for this study is based on a mixed-methods approach, using testimonies and results from 34 students’ exam papers, closure questionnaires, and a long-term follow-up survey 3-6 years later. Most participants, employed or unemployed, returned to working life with renewed motivation and zest. These results, showing lasting improvements, demonstrate the power of art.