Arts and early childhood collaborations: leaders’ perceptions of the challenges and the opportunities

Abstract

This research was part of an arts and Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) collaboration, which placed three artists in three ECEC settings. The aim of the research was to create a 'meeting place' (Dahlberg and Lenz Taguchi 1994) for local Authority advisors, ECEC leaders and arts leaders, to explore their perceptions of the challenges and opportunities when establishing and developing an arts and ECEC collaboration. Ethical approval was granted by the University of Plymouth. Participants were informed of my dual role as researcher and as trustee of the arts organisation. Qualitative data were generated in two phases. During the first phase participants with similar roles met, identified what they viewed were the key challenges and opportunities when establishing the collaboration. The second phase provided a space for all participants to meet and discuss these and together identify actions for future practice, which could guide longer-term arts and ECEC collaborations. Implications for practice are for the organisation leaders to maintain a focus on building their partnership as well as constructing a shared vision of an arts and ECEC collaboration.