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Dr Sharon Wagg
Dr Pam Mckinney
Digital Arts and Culture - The Perfect 'Hook' for Digital Inclusion: Leeds Arts and Culture Digital Inclusion Pilot
Funder: Arts Council England
According to existing research, the arts and culture sector can help to promote digital inclusion through supporting and motivating individuals to use digital and improve their digital skills.
This qualitative research project centred on capturing practices used by organisations that provide digital arts-based activities to engage older people to use digital technologies. The project aimed to establish whether such practices can lay the foundations of basic digital skills and whether these will lead to an increased willingness to engage with other digital tools and services that facilitate everyday life. Furthermore, the project sought to reveal the mechanisms in place that enable the longevity of such digital inclusion activities and practices.
The overall aim of this project sought to explore how digital arts and culture can be a first step to engaging with a wider range of digital tools, technology and services. The project was focused on older people who may be reluctant internet users. The project produced guidance which will encourage and support greater involvement of arts and culture within digital inclusion programmes.
The full project report is now available to view and download, this includes a detailed summary of the research context, how the research was conducted and the key findings from the research. A research infographic provides a succinct and engaging overview of the project, available as both printable and digital versions.
The research partner, 100% Digital Leeds, have developed a toolkit to share the project learning with other organisations including older people's services, arts and culture organisations as well as digital inclusion specialists. The toolkit is designed to provide guidance on embedding digital elements into creative activities that appeal to people's interests and develop their confidence and skills.
For more information, please visit the dedicated project website: Leeds Arts & Culture Digital Inclusion Pilot
Digital-Inclusion-Infographic-Digital.pdfCulture Connect: Using Culture and the Arts to Bridge the Digital Divide
Culture Connect: Using Culture and the Arts to Bridge the Digital Divide
Webinar recording from the Cambs Digi Fest 2025, presented by the Cambridgeshire Digital Partnership and Connecting Cambridgeshire. Read the blog post here.
Project team:
Dr Sharon Wagg, Project Lead
Dr Pam Mckinney, Co-Investigator
Laura Woods, Research Associate
Mariyah Mandhu, Research Associate
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