To ensure sustainability, a plan and opportunities should be created for participants to continue to be engaged with culture and art activities and/or in social exchange beyond the AoP programme they were offered.
Within the last 2-3 weeks of the AoP programme, the link worker should discuss with the participants their perspectives for continuing in culture and arts activities and/or continuing their fellowship after the programme. This is to encourage the participants to integrate the arts into their daily life, to help them strengthen their social network and maintain the positive effects of the AoP programme.
Photo: Westpomeranian Region
Beyond reflecting on how each individual could continue in culture and arts activities on their own in their daily lives, the following measures can contribute to the sustainability of the social as well as the cultural, artistic aspects of the programme:
- Ongoing participant self-organised meetings. By providing a location where participants can meet after their AoP programme ends, can former (and new) participants can independently maintain and establish social contact beyond the programme.
- Referral to municipality or regional self-help groups. Inviting representatives of self-help networks or groups to an AoP meeting, providing participants with an overview of self-help groups and contact details in the region.
- The link worker can provide an overview of culture and art institutions. Participants can then plan and continue to engage together in upcoming culture and arts events.
- Internship and volunteer opportunities. Consider the possibility of an internship or volunteer work in art and cultural institution.