Evaluation Title

Breaking Down Walls - The Good Vibrations Project in Prison

Type of evaluation

Data type Qualitative

Evaluation Focus Attitudinal change, Behaviour change, Cost benefit, Skills development

Key indicators Confidence, Engagement, Progression Routes

Methodology Ethnographic methods

Research limitations Links to Government targets

Summary of evaluation

This study looked at the educational benefits of taking part in Good Vibrations, setting its work in the context of prison education in the UK. It also assessed the value-for-money of Good Vibrations courses.
The evaluation was specifically commissioned to build upon two earlier evaluations undertaken by Good Vibrations themselves (see Firebird Trust, 2005: 6-7), and to be ethnographic in its focus.  This evaluation sought to uncover what works about Good Vibrations, and uses the voices of prisoners and prison staff of various grades, and in different roles.

Project description

Good Vibrations runs participatory gamelan workshops - a Good Vibrations project typically runs as a week-long course for a group of 15 - 20 participants - most will not have done anything musical before. At the end of the week the group puts on an informal performance.

Key Quote

The unusual nature of the gamelan serves to bring prisoners into an environment – a classroom, where they have no doubt previously failed.  Indeed the vehemence with which we were told “if this had been basic maths or English I wouldn’t have come” is of relevance, for it seemed to us to reveal the past shame of being “failed learners” and the associated fears that were still all too present.


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Arts Alliance Evidence Library