Bazooka Arts believe that arts participation has a very valuable contribution to make towards the promotion of positive mental health, active citizenship and well connected vibrant communities and should be readily accessible to all. However at present the powerful potential of the arts is underutilised, as often the benefits cannot be readily captured by conventional scientific methods of evaluation.

Our experience in health, community and educational arts has led us to witness the personal and social transformations that occur when people are given access to well facilitated creative participation.

Our interest in arts based research and evaluation methodology led us to  develop  the 'Creative Programme for Women's Health' project with Greater Glasgow Health Board. This project had an evaluation framework that was approved  by the GGHB ethics committee and was externally evaluated for the Health Board by Jan Swift.  The final report demonstrated the efficacy of the Bazooka Arts working method in effecting positive change for participants.  This in turn led to our involvement with the Scottish Arts Council "Artfull" initiative, which evaluated a wide range of arts projects that aimed to enhance the wellbeing of participants.

We are keen to share any learning gained as a result of these evaluations as evidence based practice that promotes the power and potential for mainstreaming arts provision.