AGAD 230 Research Proposal Natalie Shykoluk

ABSTRACT EDMONTONS COMMUNITY LEAGUES: AN INTEGRAL PART OF NEIGHBOURHOOD ENGAGEMENT IN THE ARTS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT This study will examine the role of Edmontons community leagues and its governing body, the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL), in engaging its community league members and neighbourhood residents in local arts initiatives, activities, and programming. Growing from a handful of leagues in 1912 to 155 leagues in 2012, Edmontons community league movement has been instrumental in shaping Edmonton and its neighbourhoods with respect to recreation and leisure opportunities, education, and citizen engagement in municipal affairs (Kuban, 2005). Leagues share a long history with promoting an awareness and appreciation of arts and culture within their own communities and in Edmonton through partnerships with artists, programming, events, neighbourhood revitalization, and the installation of public art. As the role of leagues in arts and culture is not well known among Edmontonians, this study will endeavour to share with the public this rich history through research and data gathered from electronic survey questionnaires. It is hoped that a thorough examination of the literature, EFCL records and scrapbooks, and community league websites (e.g., events, programming, partnerships) will contribute to a better understanding of community leagues role in promoting arts and culture within communities and engaging its members. Electronic survey questionnaires will be distributed to key practitioners and leaders, such as community league presidents, EFCL staff, City of Edmonton councillors, and representatives from various community arts initiatives in Edmonton. These individuals represent key decision makers and liaisons for community leagues. Surveys will be designed to gain a better understanding of how community leagues have and continue to engage people in the arts and their role in the development of policies around arts and community development at the municipal level. The results of this study will be compiled and given to the EFCL so that they may share the information with their member organizations across Edmonton. It is hoped that the results will encourage more leagues to explore and initiate arts and cultural engagement, as well as commend the past efforts of so many leagues which rely almost entirely on volunteers to engage the citizens on Edmonton in the citys artistic and cultural diversity.

INTRODUCTION & CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK Extensive qualitative and quantitative research has shown that physical and social environments affect the health and wellbeing of individuals and their communities (Anderson et al., 2003). The term community refers to a group of people living in a neighbourhood with demarcated geographic boundaries and who are interconnected through various social relationships (Hillery, 1982; Lowe, 2000). The arts have been used in many other communities throughout the world to help build individual and community resilience by developing and

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improving interpersonal skills, constructing social networks, and contributing to a sense of place and connectedness (Anwar McHenry, 2011). The purpose of this study is to examine how Edmontons community leagues increase social capital by promoting and involving its members in the arts. Social capital can be seen as the positive outcome of social relations which bond both similar and diverse groups of people and link people through norms of reciprocity (Dekker and Uslaner, 2001). These social relations are correlated with social determinants of health, which include social status, education, child development, social support networks, and poverty (Carson, Chappell, & Knight, 2006). Activities such as theatre, music, crafts, painting, drawing, and dance are all tools which help to increase social capital when used by communities to engage its members. The Edmonton Community Sustainability Task Force (2012) looked at the factors which promote sustainability and resiliency within communities and found that engagement with the arts increased peoples sense of belonging and place. According to the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues website, the community league movement in Edmonton can be traced back to 1907 and the desire to create a community-based organization which represented the interests of the entire populace. This idea developed from the Social Centre Movement founded in Rochester, New York. The values espoused by the Social Centre Movement can be best described by Strong in his address to the University of Wisconsin in 1911:
..there is more in human nature to love than to hate, then the people coming into close contact with one another, will increase their mutual respect and lay broader and securer foundations[and] these [are the] common qualities which the social center movement recognizes and emphasizes (pp. 5-6).

It is through participation in the arts and embracing the values of the Social Centre Movement that many Edmonton community leagues have developed their own identities and revitalized their neighbourhoods. Beginning with the formation of the first community leagues in the early 1900s, the involvement in arts at a neighbourhood level became entrenched in many leagues missions and programming. For example, league drama clubs and contests, handicraft committees, and talent shows sprung up across Edmonton in the 1930s and continued until the late 1990s. The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues was also heavily involved in promoting community engagement in the arts from its inception in 1920. The EFCL bought a moving picture machine and launched its film program in 1921 which screened films free of charge for residents with league memberships (EFCL, 1996). They later loaned projectors and films to individual leagues beginning in 1948. In 1952, Edmontons 42 community leagues were encouraged by the EFCL to start their own drama clubs under the direction of Harold Glazerman, a local theatre director of some repute (Kuban, 2005). The Edmonton Recreation Commission began running an Expressive Arts program through community leagues which featured activities like drama, art, crafts, dance, and childrens day camps, although this partnership did not always run smoothly (Farina, 1950). In order to support EFCL and league programs and operations, the City of Edmonton began distributing grants and other funding, a program that has continued to the present day under the Community League Operating Grant.
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RESEARCH QUESTIONS This study will look at whether there are benefits to incorporating the arts into community league programming and activities, as well as determine whether there leagues have been successful in creating partnerships between the arts sector and their communities. Also, the role of the arts in community development will also be examined. As this study is designed as an unfolding type of inquiry, it does not seek to prove or disprove a hypothesis. However, due to the enormous amount of previous research into the link between the arts, social capital, and public health, this study will use as its foundation the premise that engagement in the arts in general has been shown to have positive outcomes in communities and among individuals. The roots of the association between arts engagement and community leagues will be explored through a review of the literature, examination of league mandates, and electronic survey questionnaires distributed to key individuals associated with Edmontons community leagues. Because community leagues operate within the boundaries of a tripartite agreement with the City of Edmonton and the EFCL, surveys will be sent to city officials, community recreation coordinators, EFCL board members, EFCL staff, community league presidents, and program coordinators. It is hoped that individuals selected to receive the survey will forward it to additional people they feel could contribute to this study. Sample questions (to be refined before ethics approval submitted): 1. Is a commitment to arts and culture reflected in your leagues mission, vision, and or values? 2. How do you think community leagues use arts and culture to improve their communities (e.g., celebrate diversity, create a sense of belonging to a particular community, increase appreciation for the arts)? 3. Does your league currently partner with local arts and/or cultural organizations to bring events and programming to your membership and community? If so, what are some examples of past events/programming that have taken place in your community? If not, do you plan on seeking out partnerships in the future? 4. What would happen if community leagues ceased to exist in terms of impact on arts and culture in Edmonton? 5. What do you see community leagues doing to increase arts and cultural awareness and engagement among their members and community residents? 6. What is the role of the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues with respect to arts and cultural engagement in Edmonton? 7. Does the EFCL liaise with the City of Edmonton on behalf of leagues in terms of advocating for increased participation in arts and culture among its member leagues? 8. What would happen if community leagues ceased to exist in terms of impact on arts and culture and civic engagement in Edmonton?

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9. Have you been personally involved in an arts engagement activity, program, and/or event as part of community league or in partnership with a community league? OR, What are some programs, events, or projects that you know of (or have been involved in) that leagues have undertaken around arts and culture? 10. What is your role in helping leagues engage their members in arts and culture?

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Anderson, L.M. et al. (2003). The Community Guides model for linking social environment to health. American Journal of Preventative Medicine 24(3S):12-20. Physical and social environments contribute to the health of individuals and their communities. Identifying resources, needs, and solutions at a community level (collectively) can help address social determinants of health. These social determinants include social institutions, environmental surroundings, and social relationships. The arts are one of the resources people in a community draw upon to sustain health and well-being. A sense of belonging within a culture, space, and time (societal) influences intermediate outcomes such as social cohesion, opportunities for learning, and community development, which in turn affect the level of community health. The arts are also a neighbourhood asset which then serves to promote health social environments and a sense of place. Anwar McHenry, J. (2011). Rural empowerment through the arts: the role of the arts in civic and social participation in the Mid West region of Western Australia. Journal of Rural Studies 27:245-253. This article explores the relationship between the arts and empowerment of rural communities in civic and social participation, or ways to help local residents find local solutions to local problems. Through this process, local residents increase their sense of place and identity while building resilience. The arts as a tool for building resilience has been wellresearched in the past: individuals and communities build resilience through developing and improving interpersonal skills, creating networks and connectedness, and increasing participation. With respect to rural engagement, the arts are the key to community sustainability and revitalization. Although community leagues are located in the metropolitan city of Edmonton, their identities can be compared to separate communities with their own identities and sense of place within a greater whole. Therefore, this article is useful in comparing strategies used in rural Australia and in Edmonton communities with respect to revitalization (e.g., Arts on the Ave) and engagement (e.g., new communities which have not yet created a sense of place or belonging).

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Baum, F.E. & Ziersch, A.M. (2003). Social capital (glossary). Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health 57(5):320-323. This article introduces the relevance of social capital to public health and provides a glossary of term which help readers understand key terms. Carson, A.J., Chappell, N.L., & Knight, C.J. (2006). Promoting health and innovative health promotion practice through a community arts centre. Health Promotion Practice 8(4):366-374. Carson et al. discuss the benefits of community arts centres in building community capacity, bringing people closer together, and improving the health of communities. Arts centres act as community coalescers which can create health benefits similar to what community recreation centres and gardens have done in the past. Members can celebrate community strengths and address community problems through arts centres, such as the Quadra Arts Centre discussed as a case study example in this article. The proven benefits of arts centres located within communities are twofold: they improve the social environment by creating a sense of community and they address social determinants of health (e.g., poverty, social status, education, child development, social support networks). The authors state that The arts are ideally suited as a mechanism through which a collective may increase its store of social capital (2006:369). This statement provides support for the partnership between the arts and community leagues in Edmonton as it serves to increase the social capital of communities and improve the city as a whole. Community Sustainability Task Force (2012). Elevate. Edmonton, AB: City of Edmonton. The Community Sustainability Task Force was charged in 2011 by Mayor Stephen Mandel with reviewing reports and studies regarding supporting neighbourhood vibrancy and revitalization. This Task Force was made up of 12 citizens from the general Edmonton community and elected school board, municipal, and provincial representatives. They also sought input from the EFCL and NextGen regarding community sustainability, innovative programming, and revitalization. Some of the recommendations made include improving the social environments of mature neighbourhoods (e.g., recreation and leisure access and programming, public libraries, and social health and wellness), seeking out new partnerships for capacity-building, and creating integrated and identifiable public realms which create a sense of place and belonging. These recommendations can be used to encourage engagement with arts and culture within communities as this sector has been shown to help communities and citizens increase their sense of belonging while preserving and celebrating diversity. Dekker, P. & Uslaner, E.M. (2001). Introduction. In Social capital and participation in everyday life, pp. 1-8. E.M. Uslaner, Ed. London, UK: Routledge. This source was cited in the Introduction of this research proposal because it was used to obtain an understanding and definition of social capital.
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Edmonton Cultural Capital Program. (2007). Community arts grant: cultural collaborations Voices Less Heard. Edmonton: Author. The Community Arts Grants Program was created in honour of Edmonton being named the Cultural Capital of Canada for 2007. Although these grants are no longer available, it is useful to look at which projects in Edmonton received funding for community arts projects and collaborations. Its criteria were similar to that of the Living Local Arts and Heritage Program in that community members must be involved in all aspects of the project. Many community leagues were consulted and involved with the successful projects, including Arts on the Ave. The programs goals were threefold: promote understanding among members of a specific community, share that understanding with other Edmonton communities, and create projects which will be part of social change and improved quality of life. Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (1996). Continued community commitment. Edmonton, AB: Richard S. Sheps. This commemorative issue (EFCLs 75th anniversary) discusses the role of Edmontons community leagues in civic politics and as a political body which lobbied the municipal government for funding and policies to support leagues inclusive activities for all community members. The EFCL has ensured that leagues were active in recreation outside from providing sports opportunities. Leagues have been instrumental in numerous Klondike Days events, music and art programming, and low-cost or free arts and cultural family events. In the 1930s, community league drama clubs sprung up across the city and, in the 1940s, the EFCL began screening movies for a fraction of the cost of a theatre ticket. Winter carnivals and talent shows hosted by the EFCL and many leagues were very popular and served to engage residents in participating in arts and culture at the local and municipal level. Th e authors note that A great effort has been made to serve the diverse needs of the community[and develop] programs to fill the gaps in community programs (p. 29). Edmonton Heritage Council. (2012). Living local: 2012 neighbourhood arts and heritage project grants [Online]. Retrieved September 27, 2012 from the World Wide Web: www.edmontonheritage.ca/go/living-local/ The Living Local Arts and Heritage program is a joint granting body made up of the EFCL, Edmonton Arts Council, and the Edmonton Heritage Council. The programs objective is to provide up to $20,000 to leagues so that they can commission a local artist (or group of artists) and a historian/heritage practitioner to create a piece of art (e.g., mural, sculpture), workshop, or live performance which recognizes and memorializes their neighbourhoods artistic and historical character. This is a type of matching grant where applicants must cover one third of the projects cost. All participants must have strong ties to the community to be eligible. Past projects include the Alberta Avenue Oral History Interpretive Project, Illuminated Boyle (digital media arts using archival photos and contemporary images from local writers and poets), Hazeldean Green: Connecting in Place (animate historic railway spur with industrial sculpture
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and interpretive installation), and Child Artists in Action. It would be beneficial to this study if I could interview some of the people associated with these projects, as well as members of the granting body. Farina, A.J.O. (1950). The Edmonton community leagues: a study in community organization for recreation (Master of Social Work thesis). Retrieved from https://circle.ubc.ca/bitstream /handle/2429/41266/UBC_1950_A5%20F2%20E2.pdf?sequence=1 Grodach, C. (2011). Art spaces in community and economic development: connections to neighborhoods, artists, and the cultural economy. Journal of Planning Education and Research 31(1): 74-85. Grodach discusses the need for further research into how the arts can help foster economic development, neighbourhood revitalization, and build community social networks. Participants and organizers of small to mid-sized art spaces were interviewed to determine what motivates them to engage in neighbourhood revitalization and outreach, support artistic communities, and build bridges with commercial cultural sectors. Arts spaces provide the channel through which a community can build social networks by engaging residents, artistic communities, and business owners. We can see this theory in practice in the Strathearn community, Alberta Avenue, and in Old Strathcona. Grodach, C. (2010). Art spaces, public space, and the link to community development. Community Development Journal 45(4):474-493. PAT-10008442 * I am waiting for this articles through Inter-library loans. Jones, B. (1988). The community artist as community development catalyst: an evaluation of a pilot project. Journal of the Community Development Society 19(1):37-50. PAT 10008445 * I am waiting for this article through Inter-library loans. Kay, A. (2000). Art and community development: the role the arts have in regenerating communities. Community Development Journal 35(4):414-424. PAT-10008443 * I am waiting for this article through Inter-library loans. Khan, S. (2012). Cultural outreach project report. Edmonton, AB: Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues. The Cultural Outreach Project was launched by the EFCL in 2009 and was designed to reach out to immigrants, ethno-cultural groups, and Aboriginal communities in the Edmonton area through community leagues. Outreach staff looked at how leagues could bridge the gap and overcome social barriers between these groups and mainstream or the dominant culture
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in Edmonton communities. They found that creating programs and activities that attracted these different cultures could help bridge this gap. Groups wanted to share their histories, experiences, and journeys with league members and activities could be arranged to create a space where sharing and understanding could take place. Culturally-appropriate programming was identified as a need by many groups, as was the desire to be welcomed into the community based on mutual respect for diversity and respect for different beliefs and values. This report is a useful tool in looking at how leagues can engage people in their communities from diverse backgrounds through recreational activities, as well as culturally inclusive programming and events. Klingbeil, C. (2012, September 15). Community leagues host 90 festivals Saturday. Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Commons Section. This article highlights the events which took place on Community League Day 2012. Some arts and cultural activities put on by Edmonton leagues included making corn husk dolls, stilt-walking, salsa dancing, and arts and crafts at Art in Our Park. Klingbeil quotes David Dodge, President of the EFCL speaking to why Community League Day was initiated, Our purpose is to help leagues draw attention to what they do so folks all over the city can live local, meet their neighbours and build really strong communities. Kostash, M. (2012, September 18). Edmontons community leagues blend community and creativity and theyve done it for almost 100 years [Online]. Retrieved September 26 2012 from the World Wide Web: http://albertaventure.com/2012/09/edmontons community-leagues-blend-community-and-creativity-and-theyve-done-it-for-almost 100-years/ This is a great article posted on Alberta Venture (but not an actual article in the magazine), which gives a brief history of Edmontons community leagues and describes how leagues have been, and continue to be, integral to neighbourhood recreational and creative programming, social networking, and providing sense of place. Kostash discusses how leagues used the ideals from the U.S.-based Social Center Movement to guide their activities, and continue to play in important role in influencing government policies. Because leagues are committed to bettering the communities they serve, many creative programs, recreational spaces, and works of public art owe their existence to the volunteers who serve on league boards and committees. Kuban, R. (2005). Edmontons urban villages: the community league movement . Edmonton, AB: The University of Alberta Press. Kuban, past president of the EFCL and long-time community league board member, has compiled a definitive history of Edmonton`s community leagues. Through historical anecdotes and concrete examples, he shows how leagues helped to shape Edmonton`s health, education, and recreation development through grassroots civic participation and volunteerism. There are numerous examples and analysis of the impact leagues have had on arts and cultural
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engagement of their members, through accessible programming and events which contribute to a sense of place and improved quality of life. Lowe, S. (2000). Creating community: art for community development. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 29:357-386. Lowe investigates the connection between community arts projects and the promotion of community solidarity through shared goals, social norms, and development of community symbols. She also provides two definitions of which are useful for my research study: 1. A social group inhabiting a common territory and having one or more additional common ties (Hillery, 1982:31 will cite this in Literature Cited section of paper); and, 2. Common territory is a neighbourhood demarcated by geographic boundaries, and common ties are interconnected or cohesive social relationships (Lowe, 2000:360). Madyaningrum, M.E. & Sonn, C. (2011). Exploring the meaning of participation in a community art project: a case study on the Seeming Project. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology 21:358-370. Madyaningrum and Sonn discuss the link between participation in community art projects and positive development outcomes related to community development. By participating in community art projects, individuals can create new relationships with others and to their community. The authors state that Community art is a form of cultural practice in which art is produced and used by local people within their communities as an instrument of social change (2011:358). The social and psychological processes involved in participating in a community art project are explored in this study through interviewing participants in such projects. The tactics employed in this study could be used to inform research questions and methods when studying neighbourhood engagement strategies related to the arts and community leagues in Edmonton. Phillips, R. (2004). Artful business: using the arts for community economic development. Community Development Journal 39(2):112-122. This article argues the case for integrating arts into community development efforts. The author presents five community vignettes which demonstrate the different approaches which can be used in within a community to stimulate economic development: artist cooperative, arts business incubators, arts tourism venues, and other comprehensive approaches. Inculcating community support for the value of arts and culture is essential to initiate and sustain this type of community development. It is interesting to note that the Strathearn Community League has integrated these ideas into its arts development plan which is trying to encourage artists in its community and stimulate support for the arts through programming and events (e.g., Strathearn Art Walk).

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Punch, K.F. (2006). Developing effective research proposals. 2nd ed. Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications Ltd. I will be using this text to help me write my research proposal and to guide my research. As I am somewhat unfamiliar with qualitative methodology, Punchs text will assist me primarily to develop interview and survey questions and provide guidance in creating an ethical research study. The research proposal examples contained in this book are also useful in providing tips and real-world samples of proposals I can draw on for my own project. Putland, C. (2008). Lost in translation: the question of evidence linking community-based arts and health promotion. Journal of Health Psychology 13(2):265-276. Putland explores the concept that community-based arts practices have a positive effect on social outcomes, such as individual and community health. She examines the literature and finds that this relationship has not been adequately researched and measured in the social science, public health, and medical fields. There exists great opportunities for researchers to examine this issue from a multidisciplinary perspective; however, Putland does make a valid point when she asks what do we want from the evidence (2008:274). In essence, do we need hard scientific data which proves or disproves the health benefits of arts and culture on individuals and communities, or do we need to move outside the academic argument in order to understand this relationship? Remple, N. (2012, September 10). Third annual Community League Day features wide variety of activities. Edmonton Examiner, Events section. The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues initiated Community League Day in 2010. It takes place each year on the third Saturday in September and is designed to celebrate Edmontons community leagues in a festival-like atmosphere, as well as bring neighbours together and showcase local abilities. These abilities vary from local artistic talents, dancing, cultural celebrations, local foods, and recreation opportunities. A great example from this years festival is Art at Our Park, a cooperative event produced by Riverbend, the Ridge, Terwillegar, Oak Hills, Hodgson, and Brookview communities. These leagues would be great resources to use for my questionnaire and I plan on researching this event through these leagues websites. Strathearn Community League. (2012, September 11). Your guide to the Strathearn Art Walk and After Party [Online]. Retrieved September 25, 2012 from the World Wide Web: www.strathearncommunityleague.org/home/?p=1199 The Strathearn Art Walk takes place annually at the end of September and features a tour of local artists who display their works on the street, local public galleries, retailers, and public art in the community. It is a chance for people in Strathearn and visitors to the community to take in the local arts movement, buy art, and make their own art. I hope to interview someone from this league to get a better understanding of how arts and culture
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strengthen their community and help members engage with the arts and one another. Also, I want to know how this event started and why people felt a need to come together to create it. Strong, J. (1911). The social center movement. Address delivered before The First National Conference on Civic and Social Center Development at Madison, Wisconsin, October 25, 1911. Bulletin of the University of Wisconsin Serial No. 465, General Series No. 302. This address articulates the roots and ambitions of the Social Center Movement, as delivered in 1911 by J. Strong, President of the Social Center Association of America. It is a useful resource in that this movement is the basis of how and why community leagues formed in Edmonton in the early 20th century. Community leagues espouse the ideals of the Social Center Movement in their commitment to valuing the common interests of communities/neighbourhoods, democracy, self-government, and aversion to sectarianism and partisanship. Trochim, W. (2006, October 20). Ethics in research. Research methods knowledge base [Online]. Retrieved September 25, 2012 from the World Wide Web: www.social researchmethods.net/kb/ethics.php This will be used an additional resource to inform Punch`s 2006 text (see above) with respect to the ethical considerations required in this research study. It is a plain language version of what Punch discusses and provides excellent examples of unethical research done in the past.

RESEARCH METHODS This study will focus mainly on the use of qualitative methodology through the administration of interviews and online surveys in order to obtain a better understanding of the relationship between Edmontons community leagues and its members engagement wi th arts and culture. Sampling strategies will include random purposeful, stratified purposeful, and opportunistic methods of inquiry (as discussed in Punch, 2006:51). A random purposeful strategy will be employed due to two factors: 1) the time frame dedicated to this study is too short to allow for sampling of the entire potential purposeful sample and 2) credibility will be achieved through careful selection of potential interview subjects and selection of subjects based on their likely ability and willingness to contribute meaningfully to this study. The use of stratified purposeful sampling is designed to divide identified subjects into subgroups in order to facilitate comparison among subgroup experiences and opinions, as well as between subgroups. It is necessary to include the possibility of opportunistic sampling because interviews with groups and subgroups may result in new information regarding possible new interview subjects who could contribute valuable information to this study. Quantitative statistics will also be compiled with respect to 1) number of surveys administered online versus number of actual respondents, 2) number of leagues whose
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mandate includes arts and culture, and 3) number of leagues who include arts and cultural activities in their events and programming. Qualitative data will be used to inform the quantitative results.

RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE The aims of this study are threefold: to increase knowledge and awareness, inform policy decisions, and influence practitioners.1 It is hoped that the qualitative data gathered from interviewing a variety of subgroups will contribute to a better understanding of how community organizations such as community leagues enhance community engagement in arts and culture in urban areas (in this case, Edmonton). Through this knowledge and examining the personal experiences of interviewees, it may be possible to inform policymaking at the municipal and provincial levels with regard to funding available for community leagues to continue their engagement with arts and culture, or the provision of seed grants to assist leagues in seeking out and creating new partnerships. Also, many leagues may not be aware of what other leagues are doing in terms of arts and cultural engagement. Therefore, sharing these experiences through the results of this study could help influence league boards (i.e., practitioners) in terms of providing them with new ideas and initiating their engagement strategies.

DELIMITATIONS & LIMITATIONS OF RESEARCH The scope of this research study is delimited by a number of factors: time period of this course (September to December 2012); the objectives and scope of this course (i.e., undergraduate-level research not exhaustive); number of questions contained in the electronic survey; number of electronic surveys emailed to practitioners2; and, the relationship between community leagues and arts and culture in Edmonton (as opposed to sectors outside arts and culture).

The most significant limitation to this research study is the time frame in which it needs to take place. As the AGAD 230 Independent Study course runs from September to December 2012, all data collection and analysis must be complete by the end of the Fall term. Therefore,

The term practitioners refers to community league board members and volunteers, EFCL staff and board, Community Recreation Coordinators (City of Edmonton), City of Edmonton councillors, artists, and members of different cultural organizations. 2 However, some practitioners may choose to forward the survey to other people in their field, thereby increasing the scope of this study in terms of total number of surveys returned. Page | 12

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potential interviewees and survey participants need to be informed of the time restrictions placed on this study so as to ensure all possible data is collected prior to November 30, 2012. An additional limitation is the fact that not all research participants selected by the author may choose to respond to the request for interviews or survey responses. It is hoped that the response rate will exceed 50%; however, the quantity of potential research participants will increase the likelihood of obtaining a significant amount of responses and data.

ETHICAL ISSUES Researchers employing qualitative and/or quantitative must be aware of the many ethical implications of their research. When planning for and conducting research using human subjects, Punch advocates that researchers remain aware of their ethical responsibilities and how they relate to academic integrity, honesty, and an overarching respect for other people (2006:56). This research proposal will be submitted to the Research Ethics Board at Grant MacEwan University for ethics approval. Informed consent All research participants will be provided with the research proposal abstract and informed as to why they were chosen to participate in this study. Also, their participation is completely voluntary and they are free to choose to conclude the interview or exit the survey at any point in time. The full research proposal, ethics approval, and Department Chair contact information will be made available to all participants should they wish to review these documents. If they so choose, they may request a copy of their interview for their own personal use. Confidentiality and anonymity Research participants will be able to choose if they want to remain anonymous or have their name and organization associated with research data and/or published with the results of this study. Should a participant wish to remain anonymous, their interview/survey responses will be coded with a fictitious name and this fictitious name will also appear in the final paper. Ownership of data and conclusions The author of this study will retain ownership of data and conclusions. Results of this study will be shared with the instructor and students in AGAD 230 Independent Study. Depending on the significance and usability of the conclusions reached and information gathered, there exists the possibility that the study or parts of the study may be circulated to community leagues across Edmonton and disseminated through the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues on their website and e-newsletter. It is hoped that the conclusions can be shared through a conference presentation or published article at a later date. Ownership and storage of research data - Digital recordings of interviews and transcribed interviews will be stored with the Department of Arts and Cultural Management at

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Grant MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta, for a period of X years (if required according to REB - TBD). Use and misuse of results At no point in time will the results of this study be used to defame any person or organization involved in the study. ??? Not sure what to put here. Honesty and trust The author of this study is a member of the Board of Directors for the Forest/Terrace Heights Community League in Edmonton. As such, she is committed to building and sustaining positive working relationships with all community leagues, the EFCL, and the City of Edmonton. Reciprocity All participants will have access to the results of this study and the author will offer all community leagues (including those who did not participate in the study), access to the results so that they may become informed of other leagues mandates, events, and activities around arts and culture. Harm and risk There are no identified physical or psychological risks associated with this study. This study has been identified as low-risk and the potential for harm to research participants is negligible. Conflict of interest All participants will be informed of the authors position on the Forest/Terrace Heights Board of Directors. The author will not use her position to influence or skew the results of this study in favour of the league she is associated with.

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