Australian-first study of peer-coaching in arts and culture now recruiting

Researchers are calling for artists and arts enablers to be involved in a new study of peer coaching at The University of Queensland.
     
Chief investigator Dr Kate Power from UQ's Business School said she is working closely with arts organizations to develop a new Peer Coaching Guide for Australia's arts and culture sector, to help rebuild business and artistic practices devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.   

"Peer coaching is used widely in education and business, and there is strong evidence suggesting it provides a low-cost, high-impact tool for building collaboration and resilience. But we have a limited understanding about the impact of peer-coaching in the arts and culture sector," Dr Power said.
     
"Peer coaching models designed for business may not address the needs and concerns of artists and arts enablers.
     
"I'm researching this area to provide practical support for Australian artists and arts organizations – particularly independent artists and small-to-medium companies, who have been hit hardest by COVID-10."
     
Dr Power's research is supported by an 18-month Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship (AQIRF) provided by the Queensland Government, and relies on collaboration with industry partners ArtsNexus, La Boite Theatre, and Queensland Ballet.
     
This is the first study to work closely with arts organizations to evaluate the impact of peer coaching, and to co-design a Peer Coaching Guide that is both theoretically informed and empirically tested.