Mapping the European ecosystem of the Socially Engaged Arts (SEAs)

Project summary

This research addresses the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts’ dual research commission on the ecosystem of socially engaged arts organisations and the policy and funding landscape shaping the field. It presents three core aims: 
1) To recognise SEA organisations across a diversity of contexts across Europe for their contributions to the wider social impact, policy and systems change field. 
2) To better understand how the SEA ecosystem is constituted in order to best support its evolution. 
3) To communicate the SEA sector’s nature and impact with clarity and accessibility so that the sector can be better understood by policymakers, funders and stakeholders within and beyond the sector, in the interests of improving the potential for social change and transformation that could be possible.

  • Lead partnerThe Field
  • ClientAlliance for Socially Engaged Arts
  • Funding programmeService contract
  • Period2025-2026
  • RegionEU-27
  • ServicePolicy, Research
  • Statusongoing

KEA's contribution

KEA is in charge of analyzing and presenting the role of SEAs in driving social change, funding mechanisms, and public policies. KEA will delve into finding and policy mechanisms, geographic and structural variations, broader trends, and advocay opportunities for SEA. It will do so through a comprehensive methodology including desk review, case studies, data integration and comparative mapping, trend and gap analysis.