Dr. Tiina Kukkonen
Arts-based knowledge translation (ABKT) involves using the arts to communicate research findings to inspire positive shifts in thinking, feeling, and action. As a form of knowledge mobilisation, ABKT has gained traction in recent years because of its demonstrated potential to engage diverse audiences—particularly those outside of academia—by encouraging alternative and affective ways of understanding research knowledge. However, researchers with limited knowledge of or skills in the arts may feel ill-equipped to infuse artmaking into their research processes. In response to this barrier, Kukkonen and Cooper (2019) developed an ABKT planning framework to assist researchers in their arts-based efforts. The framework comprises four stages, derived from a cross-sector analysis of ABKT literature: 1) identify goals in relation to target audiences; 2) select appropriate art genre(s) and medium(s) for disseminating the research; 3) build partnerships with artists and other community members to strengthen the process and outcomes of the ABKT initiative; 4) plan methods for disseminating and tracing the impact of ABKT processes and products on target audiences. Since its publication, the framework has been applied to numerous research projects and knowledge mobilization initiatives around the world. In this webinar, Dr. Kukkonen will illuminate the potential of ABKT through the lens of the framework and offer practical examples of the framework in action.