Name of the tool:
POST-VIST REPORTS
What the result will look like:
Written analysis of the clown visits.
Description of the tool:
The artists write a report of the clown visit right after the visit. The report usually follows the same format, combining closed questions to gather quantitative data and open questions to facilitate reflection.
Depending on the needs of the organisations and artists, it can be:
– a short survey (either online or printed) to be filled in,
– a long-form diary format that focuses on a narrative description,
– a free-form account of the visit following more generic indications of data to be covered.
The reports can be collected through an online tool (e.g. Slack, a shared drive).
When it can be used:
The post-visits reports can be used for personal reflection, in-depth understanding of tools and skills and for data collection. They prove to be very useful when addressing new audiences or testing new techniques, as the analysis of the reports can lead to informed, evidence-based decisions.
Who it’s useful for:
Artists can gain valuable insights on successful moments, can identify effective artistic techniques, and pinpoint areas for improvement.
Project managers can create an analysis based on multiple reports to identify trends that can offer a comprehensive understanding of the impact of artistic interventions.
Length of process:
The reporting process should be concise and manageable, typically taking 15-20 minutes. This ensures that artists can efficiently capture their reflections without it becoming a time-consuming task. The diary format that focuses more on reflection and a more detailed, narrative description of the intervention can take about an hour to fill in.
For analysis purposes, this activity should be repeated, constantly implemented over a longer period of time, depending on the objectives of the analysis.
Main features - advantages:
Self-reflection: The tool offers a straightforward and accessible way for artists to reflect on their experiences.
Balanced account of the intervention: It encourages thoughtful consideration of both successful and challenging moments, fostering continuous improvement.
Flexibility: The tool is very adaptable, allowing for personalized approaches to reporting.
Main features - disadvantages:
While the reporting tool is generally straightforward, potential disadvantages include the subjective nature of self-assessment and the need for consistent documentation. Artists may find it challenging to capture the essence of complex interactions in a brief format.
Guidelines for implementation:
Consistent Documentation: Encourage artists to consistently and promptly document their reflections after each interaction.
Structured Prompts: Provide a set of prompts to guide artists in capturing key elements such as special moments and effective artistic techniques. Provide also closed questions or quantitative inputs.
Regular Review: Schedule periodic reviews of the reports to identify patterns, share insights, and inform future artistic interventions.
Encourage Honesty: Create an environment that encourages honest reflection, emphasizing that both successes and challenges are valuable for growth.
Consent: Always be aware if you have the legal and ethical right to share internally what happened during a visit.
Tool in practice:
During ClowNexus, post-visit reports took many forms.
The tools that were developed specifically during ClowNexus helped the artists organise their self-reflection and the reports on the visits. For example, the Learning Platform (a set of forms shared on the project cloud drive) has proven to be helpful for artists. The artists’ perspectives on their work acted as a form of analysis and self-analysis, with personal reflections serving as qualitative indicators of the artistic work.
The pages from the Learning Platform revealed essential information by often describing, in detail, the tools used by clown artists with the two target groups. Additionally, the partners used their own formats: short visits reports shared on the organizational Slack channels or longer narrative reporting shared within a smaller team.
Attachments / Images:
Origin of the tool:
This is a common tool for monitoring, evaluation and learning. The examples shared above were specifically developed during Clownexus.
