Abstract

Arts-informed inquiry blends the systematic and rigorous qualities of social science inquiry with the creative and imaginative qualities of the arts but with a greater capacity to reach audiences beyond the academy. The intention for research to appeal to a wide audience becomes an explicit endeavor to make a difference not only in the lives of ordinary citizens but also in the thinking of policy makers, politicians, legislators and other key decision makers (Cole & Knowles, 2008). Through arts-informed inquiry, researchers honour the diverse forms of knowing that are part of everyday experience. Our goals relate to relevance, accessibility and engagement in research projects. Whether it is literary, visual or performance, this relatively new qualitative approach allows art to inform processes and representations of scholarly inquiry. As such, the relationship between the purpose of the research (related to knowledge advancement) and the developing competence of the chosen art form is crucial. This paper demonstrates how arts-informed inquiry was utilised in the creation of my PhD thesis.