Graduate Student Capstones, Projects, and Theses

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2017-2018 Graduate Student Research Journal
(2018-07) Center for Community Arts & Cultural Policy
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A, Chahta sia: Reevaluating the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
(University of Oregon, 2014-12) Reynolds, Mattie
Passed in 1990, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a federal law that requires museum and federal agencies to comply with a complex set of regulations stipulating the return of Native American sacred objects, objects of cultural patrimony, funerary objects, and human remains. Using two different courses, Art Law and Anthropology Museum, this capstone examines the events leading up to NAGPRA’s passage, the issues that continue to persist in completing repatriations two decades after its passage, and presents possible solutions to assist future repatriations. In hopes of also shedding light on the relationships built between museums and Native American communities while completing repatriations, this capstone will briefly examine whether said relationships can contribute to future collaborations and interactions. The goal of this capstone is to offer a condensed historical examination of NAGPRA as well as its most prevalent issues in order to provide a resource for both museums and Native American communities attempting to complete repatriations with which they could prevent extensive delays or confusion.
Open Access
Activating Place Identity: Programmatic Shifts in the Outdoor, Public Spaces of Downtown Eugene
(2018-06) Schenter, Melissa
This study examines the City of Eugene’s adoption of creative placemaking practices in an effort to positively alter the identity of its Downtown- focusing on the resultant shifts in programming methods, and on the complex role of artistic producers within it’s outdoor, public spaces. Recognizing “place identity” as existing in the combination of both tangible and intangible elements, this project applies a framework of performance theory to analyse the “mechanisms of action” which work to normalize behaviors within physical spaces, thus influencing perceptions of place. Based largely on 15, semi-structured interviews with City programmers and community arts leaders, the findings of this project focus predominantly on the concept of “activations”- an emergent style of arts programming born from the creative placemaking movement, and inspired in Eugene by the 2016 Downtown Assessment conducted by the Project for Public Spaces (PPS). Interviewees differentiated activation programming from event programming, describing the former as being more ambient, ongoing, inclusive, and as creating a greater link between the arts and city infrastructure. Importantly, activations provide more varied modes of engagement, and have the potential to more subtly influence behavior patterns over time. Through these interviews, it became apparent that current city infrastructure struggles to support artistic activities. However, Eugene has adopted strategic partnership models to work towards addressing downtown’s identity crisis, which involve intentional arts programming. Following the work of PPS, the Mayor, City Council, and leaders across various City department pulled together a diverse team of city staff to form the “Downtown Operations Team.” As a result, arts programmers voices have been brought to the table in strategic, downtown revitalization efforts, allowing them to work alongside leaders in areas such as Facilities, Transportation Options, and Planning & Development. Through these collaborations, City programmers and arts leaders have adopted a necessary sensitivity in their work, in order to complement the efforts of social services and public safety providers. The conclusion of this research argues that the City of Eugene’s shift towards activation programming is a move in the right direction. Because activations are more accessible to differing populations, and more conscious to the various entities working within these public spaces, they could be especially useful for addressing the current needs of Downtown Eugene. To sustain this type of programming, however, more flexible public spaces are needed. Additionally, because activations require strong links between artists and city infrastructure, continued strategic collaborations, such as the City’s “Downtown Operations Team”, are a necessity- with City divisions such as Cultural Services and Planning & Development acting as leading intermediaries. Ultimately, these programmatic shifts will help to introduce new levels of sociability to these spaces, and increase Downtown Eugene’s ability to act as a civic heart to the community.
Open Access
Activating Space: New Program Models for Participatory and Temporal Art in the Public Realm
(2012-12) Laubscher, Marissa Anne
Grounded in public and social practice art history and theory, this document examines emerging program & curatorial models for the presentation of participatory and temporal art in the public realm. The document provides an overview of the context from which participatory and temporal art has emerged, as well as the curatorial and organizational models that support these projects. Included is a literature review of theoretical texts on participatory art and culture, social practice art, and contemporary public art theory. Also discussed are important considerations that influence the successful administration of participatory and temporal art works in the public realm. An overview of current temporary public art programs is provided along with analysis regarding the strengths and limitations of various models. This research is meant to provide perspective on the past and present context for participatory and temporal art in the public realm and to serve as a guide for future program planning.
Open Access
After the Licensure: Promoting
(2012-06) Roberts, Erin
While there is not a formal, legal definition of community radio, according to Reed and Hanson (2007) its key defining features are localism and access. This master’s project intends to address the gap in research regarding the process emergent community radio stations use to develop initial programming that promotes localism and access. This project examines the importance of community identification in the development of programming and focuses on the influence that a community radio station’s commitment to hyper‐local programming can have in attracting a participating community.
Open Access
After-school arts programs: Effective programs for at-risk adolescent Hispanic women to enhance academic achievement
(2005-12) Pena, Noemi R.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of after-school arts programs and their potential to build a better sense of self and foster creative expression for at-risk adolescent Hispanic women. This study examined the positive characteristics associated with participation in after-school arts programs that may contribute to enhancing the academic performance of Hispanic women. An after-school arts program in Santa Ana, California was selected for a case study in order to reveal the effectiveness of after-school arts programs. This Master’s project was completed in partial fulfillment for a Master of Arts degree in Arts Management from the University of Oregon.
Open Access
ANDRAGOGY AND ARTS PROGRAMMING: FACILITATING GENERATION XERS IN POSTMODERN JUDEO-CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
(2002-12) Burkhalter, Heather Leann
The purpose of this study was to determine whether andragogical practices were a useful means for the delivery of arts and cultural programs to Generation Xers in postmodern Judeo-Chirstian church settings. The data gathered in this study provided a much-needed base of information to assist leaders in facilitating and connecting with Generation Xers. It was determined that it was desirable for individual leaders in postmodern Judeo-Christian churches to know more about their own attitudes and approaches to learning.
Open Access
ARGUING THEIR WAY AROUND THE WORLD: An exhibition proposal for the 1927 University of Oregon World Debate Tour
(2003-06) Harper, Kimberly Renee
Utilizing visitor-centered, interpretive exhibition theories to enhance library displays. This historical and interpretive study explores the archival collection of the University of Oregon 1927 World Debate Tour. The development of an interpretive exhibition proposal on the subject for Special Collections at Knight Library on the UO campus provide a focus for the study. Key museum literature sources on exhibition development, audience learning, and interpretation guide the study. The key literature sources were synthesized with descriptive data from historical research of the archival collection to produce the exhibition proposal. This study provides Special Collections with some fundamental background information in exhibition theories and methods, a model of how interpretive exhibition methods could be applied to their collections, and a proposal framework to apply to other collections and subjects in the future.
Open Access
Art in the Outdoors: Developing a Framework to Describe Community-based Residential Youth Arts Camps
(2008-06) Schumm, Katie M.
Community-based programs for youth are currently gaining a significant amount of attention from researchers and practitioners across a variety of fields and disciplines. One type of community-based arts program for youth that has not been explored within the literature is the residential youth arts camp. The purpose of this master’s project will be to describe residential youth arts camps in the United States. Using an extensive literature review, document analysis, a cross-sectional questionnaire, and in-depth interviews, the project will attempt to create a framework for understanding youth arts camps as a body of practice, including goals, programming, participant populations, and instructor qualifications.
Open Access
The Art of Artistic Direction
(2007) Colburn, Kimberly
My research explores the factors involved in selecting plays for a professional theatrical season for the purpose of creating a decision-making model. The factors examined include the mission statement of the organization, marketing and financial considerations, challenges to new play development, concerns about diversity, and the community context of the organization. The decision-making processes of six regional theatres are examined through personal interviews with artistic staff. Although there were some similarities between each theatre, each theatre's decision-making process was unique. My research shows that the season planning process is determined by the needs of the theatre, the community, and the artists, as seen from the perspective of the artistic directors.
Open Access
The Art of Exchange: Implementing Cross-Cultural and Community-Based Arts Voluntourism Programs
(2013-06) Agocs, Karen
This Master’s research project explored how international community-based artdevelopment projects are implemented through volunteer tourism programs. It addresses the impacts of volunteer-tourism on receiving communities, which are often negative because the focus of the serving organization is ironically on the volunteer motive. On the contrary, when service projects are focused on the receiving community, student motivation and engagement is increased and they receive greater insights to carry home. If service projects are designed to strive for reciprocity, greater benefits are reaped for everybody. This study explored the core components of volunteer-tourism programs to identify a model that will deliver positive outcomes and benefits that outweigh the negatives to receiving communities. These core components include participant-selection (including organizational staff and students, partnering NGO staff, and host-community participants), partnerships with NGO’s, and project identification. This study also examined the best practices that inform these core components, specifically focusing on the policies and models applied. Overall this research examined the impacts of youth engagement in community-based arts, and methods for achieving reciprocity among all constituents. Youth engagement in community arts, application of policies and models, and methods for achieving reciprocity ground the foundation of each core component in this research.
Open Access
The Art of Social Giving: The Role of Online Fundraising & Community Engagement in Local Arts Organizations
(2011-06) Sherman, Arielle R., (Arielle Rose)
In my final Master’s project, I studied both the practical and theoretical implications concerning the integration of social media and fundraising within arts organizations and how these implications encourage or detract from a sense of community. Of particular importance was the exploration into if and how online communities translate into offline communities and how the boundaries between the physical and virtual realms become blurred via online giving. The ultimate goal, then, was to examine the risks and the potential benefits that online media can provide arts NPOs in their pursuit for private funding. Does social media remain an exclusive bandwagon for arts organizations jump on in order to garner support from the select segments of the population that are “connected”? Or has it become an emergent platform for all arts organizations to consider incorporating into their fundraising repertoires? KEYWORDS
Open Access
The Art of the Suburb: programming and community engagement in suburban performing arts centers
(2013-06) Hurst, Cortney
This project explores and describes the process of performing arts programming, in coordination with community engagement strategies, in an effort for a performing arts center to offer a better and more accurate representation of its community. Though an in-depth case study analysis of a performing arts center located in a suburban community, this study serves as a practical exploration of performing arts center programming for arts administrators as an acknowledgement of the responsibility local performing arts centers have in creating a space for cultivating community engagement and support, ultimately resulting in authentic representation of the community in which the performing arts center resides.
Open Access
Art Repatriation and the Use of MBRAs in Conflict Resolution
(2012-06) Nosiglia, Richard Robert
This study explores the use of MBRAs (Mutually Beneficial Repatriation Agreements) in the repatriation process of stolen art works to their original owners/ source countries of origin. The topic of cultural patrimony and stolen works of art is no longer just the subject of discussions in the museum field, but is now being played out in high profile legal battles involving museums such as the Getty Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and Bostonʼs Museum of Fine Art. This study explores what obligations museums, directors, and curators have in conduct that is in keeping with the current laws and sentiments societies are demanding from cultural institutions.
Open Access
Articulating the Contemporary Circus Sector in the United States
(University of Oregon, 2016-06-07) Francis, Joshua
The contemporary circus arts are in an era of increasing prominence in the United States dues to increased exposure in a wide range of media and throughout a variety of different performing arts forms. However, in spite of this, the art form still maintains a degree of separation from public understanding. Furthermore, those who are participating in the circus arts either as an artist, administrator, teacher, or any number of other categories are not as aware as they could be of the services and products present throughout the country for and by other circus organizations. This project endeavors to explore the activities present in the circus field by approaching it as a microcosm of the "creative sector," as articulated by Cherbo et al. (2008). Understanding the resultant circus sector in this way involves analyzing the people that work at the core of the sector, the circus activities in which this core engages, the downstream distribution infrastructure that connects the sector with its markets, the upstream production infrastructure that supports and develops the sector itself and its workers, and the general public infrastructure that externally influences the sector. From there, conclusions are drawn about what the state of these various sections say about the state of the circus sector as a whole.
Open Access
Arts Advocacy Arguments: Navigating the Network
(2006-06) Mathie, Kimberly
In pursuit of increased public financial support, arts advocates strategically align arts and culture with larger policy issues like economic and community development, academic achievement and social development for youth. Further, these arguments navigate a complicated network of organizations, connected in support of arts and culture, to reach their audiences. Utilizing instrumental collective case study, this study explores how an arts advocacy network of professional non‐profit theatre in Oregon contributes to the dissemination of information and arts advocacy efforts; what influences how arts advocacy arguments are framed and articulated and how those arguments move within an arts advocacy nework.
Open Access
Arts Education in Puerto Rico and the Artistic Development of High School Age Youth
(2009) Rodriguez Rodriguez, Kyryhan M.
The purpose of this master’s research project is to explore how the public school system and arts organizations in Puerto Rico are addressing the arts education and artistic talent development needs of Puerto Rican high school age youth. This research will identify what arts education opportunities are currently available for Puerto Rican high school students. The research will focus on the availability and accessibility of arts programs to youth from low-income families, and the role of arts organizations in the community in supporting arts education, in and out of school settings.
Open Access
Arts Exchanges in Contemporary U.S-China Cultural Diplomacy
(2013-06) Liu, Yue
U.S-China cultural diplomacy, Open-Door Policy, Cultural policy, Arts exchanges
Open Access
Arts for All: Building Low-Income Audiences
(2007-06) DeGiusti, Launa
Open Access
Arts Governance: Issues and practices in arts governance with an emphasis on nonprofit orchestral organizations
(2011-03) Willson, Nicoleen
Because successful boards of directors are an essential component of successful nonprofit organizations, this paper seeks to explore best practices and pertinent issues relating to boards of directors in the arts, and specifically that of orchestral nonprofit organizations. While arts boards can access and employ general governance practices, this paper highlights issues which impact the way board members, executive leadership, and staff approach and navigate governance in the arts. This paper provides extensive literature review of both general and arts nonprofit governance sources, with a special emphasis on orchestral arts governance. Analysis of literature explores governance models, participants in governance, and the responsibilities and activities of governance participants. Ultimately, successful arts boards should place the organization’s artistic mission at the center of their activities, while creating a collaborative environment in which all constituents and stakeholders can appropriately contribute and participate.