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Information Letter

Experiences of Partnerships between Performing Arts Education and Performing Arts Industry during the Staging of a high school musical

Investigator(s) Dr Peter Wright (Associate Professor of Arts Education & Research Methods)

Mr Robin Pascoe (Senior Lecturer Arts & Drama Education) Mr Matthew Aris (Masters Student investigator)

Contact Person Dr Peter Wright

Email [email protected] Telephone No. (08) 93602242

Invitation

You are invited to participate in this research study that is being conducted as partial

fulfilment of a Masters of Education degree at Murdoch University. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of partnerships between performing arts industry and

performing arts education during the staging of a high school musical in a professional venue. This has the aim of enhancing the possibility of positive and mutually beneficial partnerships between Arts industry and education in the future

You have been identified as a suitable participant due to your involvement in the education and/or industry sector of Iona Presentation College’s musical “Annie” at the Regal Theatre between March 11 and March 21 2016.

If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to attend TWO interviews during the staging of the “Annie” musical production on Friday 11th _{March & Monday 21 March} 2016.

The interviews will clarify and gather information on how you experience inter-sectorial partnerships. The questions asked during the interview process will not relate to your experiences of partnership with other staff within your area (Education and/or industry) but rather specifically focus on your relational experience with the ‘other’ industry or school performing arts staff during the staging of a high school musical. For example, school performing art staff will reflect on their experiences of partnerships with industry staff and vice versa.

The student researcher (who is known to you) will be combining the data provided in the interviews with his own reflections of partnerships. In order to protect your rights, the student researcher has not been involved in the recruitment process. This is to ensure your

confidentiality will be maintained if you decide not to take part in this study. If you agree to participate in this study, then your confidentiality will be maintained through the use of a third-party interviewer who has appropriate experience and who has had no previous contact with the school or the professional venue. The third-party interviewer will be instructed that any material in the interviews that she feels may compromise the participant’s professional relationships should be removed before it is forwarded to the student researcher for analysis. However, we understand that although extreme care has been taken to protect your rights you may still be recognisable to the student researcher. It is important to note, however, that if you are a school performing arts staff member the questions asked during the interview process will not relate to your experiences of partnerships with the student researcher or other

124 performing arts staff but rather specifically focus on your relational experience with industry staff during the staging of a high school musical.

The interviews will occur at a place convenient to you and be approximately 30-45 minutes in length. The interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed for analysis purposes only. Participants will later be contacted to check interpretations of some aspects of the interview. To maintain your confidentiality and anonymity, the interviews will be conducted by an external interviewer (who has no previous contact within this context) and pseudonyms assigned to protect your privacy.

Voluntary Participation and Withdrawal from the Study

It is important that you understand that your involvement is this study is voluntary. While we would be pleased to have you participate, we respect your right to decline. There will be no consequences to you if you decide not to participate, and this will not affect your treatment / service. If you decide to discontinue participation at any time, you may do so without providing an explanation. If you withdraw, all information you have provided will be destroyed.

Your privacy

Your privacy is very important to us. Your participation in this study and any information will be treated in a confidential manner. Your name and identifying details will not be used in the thesis and/or any publication arising out of the research. Following the study the data will be kept in a de-identified format, in a locked cabinet in the office of the Chief

Investigator for at least five years and then permanently destroyed. Possible Benefits

You may not get any personal benefit from taking part in this study. However, reflexive methods of sharing your feelings and experiences of inter-sectoral partnerships in interviews may encourage thoughtfulness and sensitivity of your own collaborative practice during arts related events. In addition, the knowledge gained from your participation may provide valuable feedback to the discipline of performing arts teaching as well as relevant arts industry organisations to gain richer understandings of performing arts education and industry partnerships.

Possible Risks

The focus of the research is on exploring your experiences of inter-sectorial partnerships. There is a slight risk of distress if personal issues were to arise during the interviews, however, it is up to you how much you wish to share and if you feel the questions are too intrusive you can decline from responding at any time.

Questions

If you would like to discuss any aspect of this study please feel free to contact either Dr Peter Wright on ph 93602242 or Matthew Aris on ph 0412458007. Either of us would be happy to discuss any aspect of the research with you.

Once we have analysed the information from this study we will email a summary of our findings. You can expect to receive this feedback within 18 months.

We would like to thank you in advance for your assistance with this research project. If you are willing to consent to participate in this study, please complete the attached consent form. This letter is for you to keep.

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