Artistic research workshops: Reflections on an innovative method for studying creative work

The past two decades have seen a growing interest in the use of arts-based research methods in social scientific fields and qualitative studies across disciplines. Such research takes as its starting point a relational and constructed understanding of knowledge that views the arts as capable of creating and communicating meaning. This chapter provides a reflective account of three artistic research workshops held with artists in the Ghanaian cities of Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale, highlighting the key lessons learned from this process. These findings confirm that artistic research workshops and public exhibitions are useful methodological tools for gaining new insight into the work and experiences of artists in different places, career stages, and artistic disciplines. In addition to highlighting the potential of arts-based research to yield richer data, deepen engagement, and enhance dissemination, the chapter also reflects on some of the challenges of organising artistic research workshops and public exhibitions.