RESEARCH
The Centre has conducted innovative research in the creative arts therapies and continues to expand the knowledge base in the field of disabilities and neurodivergence, contributing to developing and improving assessments and therapeutic approaches.
Research: a core component of our programs since 1996
Faculty and graduate students from Concordia's Department of Education and the Department of Creative Arts Therapies have conducted research into the efficacy of the creative arts therapies offered to participants. We have also designed and researched assessment tools to work with participants. A three-year grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) was awarded to the Centre to develop assessments in the creative arts therapies. The results from this research have been presented internationally, and spurred the creation of a textbook, Assessment in the Creative Arts Therapies, published in 2009.
Ethnodramas and Beyond
The Centre has expertise in conducting ethnodramas as an innovative research method which features a designated clientele using various forms of artistic expression to orient an audience to a better understanding of their lived experience and their challenges.
Educational documentaries and an educational toolkit have been produced for use in schools and other public arenas in order to educate the public about disability and neurodivergence.
The Centre has expanded its research into examining the effectiveness of creative arts therapies with children with autism, attracting interest from professionals in the field of autism.
The Centre continues to expand the use of the creative arts therapies among different clientele and was the recipient of the AAMR (now known as the American Association on Intellectual and Development Disabilities) Award for Social Inclusion:
Research and Innovation, the Centre for the Arts in Human Development is a leading organization in research on the intersection of the arts and disability.
Research collaborators
We welcome collaboration with researchers from other departments within Concordia University as well as researchers from other institutions. To discuss possibilities, please contact Dr. Miranda D’Amico at miranda@education.concordia.ca
and Dr. Cynthia Bruce at cynthia.bruce@concordia.ca
