Sarah has over 15 years specialising in research and evaluation for arts programmes within a range of contexts including contemporary public art, community programmes and arts education. Additionally she develops and curates creative learning resources for schools, galleries, arts organisations and local authorities.
Sarah's specific approach ensures there is ownership of the research by working closely and creatively with participants and stakeholders to develop qualitative, insightful learning.
Creative Ingredients
A creative, participatory research project with Anna Cutler, Sarah B Davies and Helen Nicholson for Royal Ballet and Opera Schools
The Royal Ballet and Opera Schools commissioned the researchers to explore the key conditions and ingredients for creativity to thrive in schools today.
Drawing on the researchers' interests in creative and performative practices, the research took a participatory approach, inviting 35 headteachers across England to attend a research dinner in the Crush Room at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Incorporating visual practices, the research is accompanied by bespoke, thematic illustrated tools and resources by Sarah.
Our Creative Ingredients research continues to evolve and mature, like a fine wine. The paper is to be published in 2025 with further workshops and tools in development.
Inspiring Learning: 24 case studies
highlighting the value of the arts in schools and beyond
highlighting the value of the arts in schools and beyond
A suite of case studies demonstrating quality arts in schools practices with contributions from across the UK,
curated by Sarah B Davies
curated by Sarah B Davies
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch)’s report The Arts in Schools (1982), A New Direction commissioned Sarah Davies to curate this suite of case studies as a companion piece to new research by Pauline Tambling and Sally Bacon (CLA) that reflects on arts and education 40 years since this seminal report.
The case studies cover a wide variety of perspectives on the value of the arts in schools, grouped into 7 themes: Wide range of artforms; Wellbeing; Power and voice; Curriculum need; Building equity; Real-world; and Area-wide creative change.
Read a blog summarising the key points
"Thanks to Sarah Davies, who has beautifully curated a series of case studies submitted by colleagues in the Bridge network and elsewhere."
Steve Moffitt, CEO A New Direction
Powerful Partnerships Resource Library
Case studies, tools and research to help achieve powerful outcomes for young people through partnership working
A curated collection of key resources designed to help partnership programmes make a significant impact on cultural learning and engagement.
The Powerful Partnership Resource Library was originally developed in 2018 and refreshed in 2022. It was curated thematically to support the main activities of Cultural Education Partnerships and other strategic, place-based developing partnerships.
Curated by Sarah B Davies for A New Direction
Young London Now
Introduction to the Listening Projects: responding to the pandemic
Young London Now introduces the five published Listening Project reports commissioned by A New Direction. It draws together some of the key priorities emerging across the pieces, and also includes links to download each of the full reports individually.
The Listening Projects aimed to hear and learn about the impact of Covid-19 and events in 2020 on our key stakeholder groups. These projects captured reflections on five themes: the experience of young Londoners over this time; the experience of organisations leading creative education practices; how culture and creative learning might respond to the Earth emergency; enabling cultural communities; and employment/ work.
Introduction written by Sarah B Davies for A New Direction.
Reset Collaboration Plan
Work differently, move quickly, and innovate for bigger and better impact
The Reset Collaboration Plan was developed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, to address the need to 'build back better' with inclusively at the centre.
The plan shares a set of worksheets, planning tools, questions and ideas to offer a starting point for joint cross-sector planning between arts and cultural organisations, the education sector and local government. It places children and young people at the centre of the need to 'reset'.
Written by Sarah B Davies and Karen Birch for A New Direction. Supported by an advisory panel of creative leaders and teachers across London.
Illustrated by Sarah B Davies 2021
Accessible and Inclusive writing and illustration
Sarah is a trained Easy Read writer and champions accessibility in the arts. Sarah also illustrates for Easy Read and accessible literature and fiction.
Easy Read format documents are highly visual and accessible for all, inclusive of people with learning differences, those that prefer visual aids and people who are learning English. Past work includes policies, surveys, LGTBQ+ support resources, and artists' briefs for learning-disabled artists.
Sample project: How to get help with domestic abuse
Contact me for a portfolio of previous Easy Read documents and illustrations.
Keeping Creative at Home
A blog series for families during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown
Developed to support families during the pandemic, the Keeping Creative at Home series of blogs includes arts activities, wellbeing and creative projects that employ visual arts, dance, performance and creative writing skills. The 18 blogs, written weekly by a group of dedicated artists and creative learning practitioners, spanned the entire stretch of time that schools were closed in 2020.
Co-curated and edited by Sarah B Davies and Greg Klerkx for A New Direction
'Museum of Lockdown' by @bubbygrubby
How to Transform Your Home into a Museum
Creative activities blog
Museums have artefacts of different types – writing, drawings, photographs and everyday objects – and they are places where you can learn new facts about people or things. We might not be able to get to museums right now, but why not create your own one at home - all about you!
Blog written during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, part of the Keeping Creative at Home blog series co-curated by Sarah B Davies and Greg Klerkx.
How to Create an Immersive Art Adventure
Creative activities blog
This blog was written to support you to develop immersive learning ideas; creating the conditions for your child to learn through experience, through their senses and explorations, to make learning real.
Blog written during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, part of the Keeping Creative at Home blog series co-curated by Sarah B Davies and Greg Klerkx.
Learning Lenses
Classroom resources for Steve McQueen's Year 3 Project
Written for Tate Britain in 2018, the Learning Lenses are classroom resources that support the themes explored in Steve McQueen's ground-breaking project, Year 3. These activities provide pupils the opportunity to use the arts to explore social and personal themes including identity, community, ambitions and hopes for the future. Each activity is connected to a wider curriculum area.
Co-authored by Sarah B Davies and 11 other artists from the Tate team.
Waltham Forest Fashion District Partnership Plan
This research project took place during the 2019 Borough of Culture in Waltham Forest, to support a partnership between London College of Fashion and the London Borough of Waltham Forest.
The research aimed to create a picture of the borough’s character, those who live and work here and the distinctive qualities of the local fashion industry. A set of local priorities, including the challenges and opportunities for the area, were identified which underpin the development of the partnership.
Copy of research available on request.
My Creative School Learning Resources
Arts-led, schools focused resources exploring new approaches to school development
This arts resource for schools includes a selection of tools, case studies and writing based on the learning from a two-year partnership with primary schools across South London. My Creative School (MCS) was a two-year programme of arts-led ‘Creative Catalyst’ projects which ran from 2016 to 2018. These projects forged new models of working between artists and teachers, developing creative approaches to school improvement and curriculum delivery.
Curated by Sarah B Davies for A New Direction
Place based Approaches: Characteristics and Learning
Research into the practices of place-based work across different sectors to support the development of place-based work in the arts sector.
The resulting documents are two-fold: a paper outlining different approaches within place-based work, which draws upon the learning for cultural programmes from 8 worldwide place-based initiatives; and a case study detailing the personal journey of leadership in establishing the Birmingham SEHM Pathway programme, which supports those wrongly placed in Social, Emotional and Mental Health schools.
Evaluation in Participatory Arts Programmes
A selection of approaches, models and methods developed across
Creative People and Places projects
Creative People and Places projects
This compendium presents a sample of interesting evaluation approaches, models and tools from Creative People and Places (between 2013 and 2016) for readers who may be thinking about their own evaluation in community contexts and participatory programmes. This resource will support artists and arts organisations planning evaluations, particularly participatory projects in community contexts.
Conceived and edited by Sarah B Davies
The International Directory of Sculpture Parks and Gardens
Sculpture parks, sculpture gardens, outdoor university collections, sculpture trails, and earthworks from around the globe
This collection of almost 600 sculpture parks and gardens across the world was launched in 2009 and continued until 2011. The foundation of the International Directory was developed from the archive of Californian sculptor James Benbow Bullock. He generously donated the contents of his original directory (www.artnut.com) to be updated and expanded.
Developed by Cameron Cartiere and Sarah B Davies with Birkbeck
Fletcher Vaughan, 'Ship of Fools'
Waitakaruru Sculpture Park, Hamilton, New Zealand
. Photo by Sarah B Davies
Level 3 reading books - illustrated by Sarah B Davies
Commissioned by Islington Council, the set of 12 reading books were developed by the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service for children and young people learning English as an additional language. The stories were inspired by the journeys and struggles these families had experienced and overcome.
The books were distributed to schools across the council and to other neighbouring boroughs.
Contact me for copies of the reading books