Towards meaningful indicators of wellbeing : community arts, inclusion and avowal in local-global relationships

Based upon the findings of two projects (one theoretical and the other empirical), this chapter unfolds in an attempt to explain why community arts, leisure and recreation events should be understood in this qualitative way. Project A is essentially methodological and theory oriented. In it, an argument is presented that indicator-centred projects are important to the society-wide job of achieving sustainability and wellbeing, but would be more effective if combined with efforts to facilitate learning and negotiation by communities and their members. Project B is empirical and normatively oriented. In order to improve upon indicators measuring social inclusion and connectedness set by one Australian state health funding body, its aim was to achieve three determinants of wellbeing- reduced isolation, reduced discrimination, and increased economic participation. Together, the findings of these projects provide the evidence base to propose a case for understanding community arts, leisure and recreation events as qualitative indicators of a community's sustainability or wellbeing.