The Holding Time Project
Project to explore mothers experiences of breastfeeding through participatory writing, video interview and photographic portraiture
Version 2, 15th Dec 2022
Introduction
This art project is run by the lead artist, Lisa Creagh. The art project aims to explore how a participatory art project can have a positive impact on the community supporting feeding mothers and bring about lasting change in attitudes to breastfeeding city-wide. The participatory art project includes a series of writing workshops, an interview with the lead artist and a portrait of you breastfeeding (if appropriate). if you participate in one part of the project, you will be invited to participate in other parts too.
Do I have to take part?
No – taking part is entirely your choice. You do not have to take part and can stop taking part at any time without giving any reason.
What will happen if I take part?
If you agree to take part, you could choose to be involved in this art project for several months. Below is an example of how other projects have worked over several months:
Month 1
Group writing workshop with a maximum of seven other caregivers. Group session will last about one and a half hours. This session will be lead by Rachel New and will offer you group activities to write about your own breastfeeding experience. The content of these workshops may form part of a radio broadcast by a project member or partner.
You will be invited to book a one to one zoom interview with lead artist, Lisa Creagh. The audio from this one to one will be recorded and used for video and animation outputs, with your approval.
Month 2
Final sessions in the zoom writing workshop with a maximum of seven other caregivers. An audio recording of parts of these workshops may be made into a radio programme or other content to promote the project.
If you have completed your interview with Lisa Creagh, you will be asked to review the 5 minute edited version of the interview. Any changes you request will then be made and the video sent back for final approval. If you have given approval, your video may be uploaded to the project YouTube channel and a short clip will be circulated on social media.
Month 3
Your zoom session should be complete. You will be asked for permission to use your writing for the project website.
If you have approved the final edited version of your video interview with Lisa Creagh You will be invited to sit for a breastfeeding portrait if you want to and you are still breastfeeding. You will be asked to book your studio session using an online booking system. You will be asked to sign a model release form for yourself and your child(children) to allow your images to be submitted to festivals and competitions.
You may be asked to watch the edited version of your video interview with subtitles, to check they are correct.
There may be a live launch of the project and you will be invited to attend and/or perform.
Month 4
If you agreed to participate in the portrait session, you may be asked to approve an edited, retouched series of images from your photography session. These images will be animated into a video lasting a few seconds up to a minute. Single images from the selection you have approved will be circulated on social media to promote the project, along with a short clip of the animation.
Month 5
You may be asked to approve an edited, retouched series of images from your photography session. These images will be animated into a video lasting a few seconds up to a minute. Single images from the selection you have approved will be circulated on social media to promote the project, along with a short clip of the animation.
Month 6
You may be asked to approve an edited, retouched series of images from your photography session. These images will be animated into a video lasting a few seconds up to a minute. Single images from the selection you have approved will be circulated on social media to promote the project, along with a short clip of the animation.
Month 7
You may be asked to read and approve a page on the project website featuring your image, your writing and a short clip of your video interview.
You will be asked to complete a short online evaluation. Your thoughts and comments will be used to improve and develop the project in the future. If you took part in the portrait session, you will receive a signed artist proof print of your portrait to keep, as a thankyou for your time and contribution.
- How will my data be collected?
The information you give in the writing workshops and zoom video will be completely private, until you give permission for it to be used. Your contribution to this art project will only be known by the project team and will be kept safe and secure. Once we have finished the art project, we will examine the outcomes and write up an evaluation for our funders. These reports will only contain images and video you have approved for release. These reports may be published in academic journals and talked about at conferences. No one will have access to the raw footage of the storytelling workshops, photography stills or video interview, except the project team and any academic partners. Anonymous, electronic information will be made available through open access publishing and data sharing and may be used by other project members via a data repository e.g., Dryad.
The workshops and interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed using AI software e.g. Otter AI (this means that we will write up a paper version of your audio recording). On request, you can also ask for a copy of your transcript if you would like. Due to the nature of the outputs from this project, it is not possible to anonymise your contributions. For example, your portrait will be titled with your first name and the date taken.
All information related to this art project will be stored on the Project team’s secured computer servers, which can only be accessed via a secure password from the project team. Your consent form and contact details will be stored securely and separately from all other art project information and will not be made available for re-use. This information will also be stored safely and securely and will only be available to the named project team and academic partners. Identifiable data will stored after the art project completion (when the findings have been written up as a report and/or journal articles) in order that we can keep you informed and involved, if you would like to be.
Under UK data protection legislation, the project team is responsible for personal data collected as part of this project. The lead Artist, Lisa Creagh, acts as the Data Processor for this art project. Any questions about how your data is being handled can be sent to her at: info@lisacreagh.com.
Further information on how your data will be used can be found in the answers to data FAQs (right).
- Are there any risks in taking part?
Risks:
Some people might find questions about negative mood, experiences of breastfeeding, and evaluating care upsetting. If you feel that answering questions about these topics would be too distressing, we advise you not to take part.
Sections of the workshops or zoom interviews which are sensitive can be skipped if you would like. You are also reminded that if at any point you should experience any discomfort or disadvantage as part of the project that you are free to withdraw without giving a reason.
During the art project you may stop taking part by emailing a member of the project team. Contributions you have made up until this point in the project will not be included in the final output. If you are unhappy with any aspect of the art project, please feel free to contact the project team and we will try to help.
The project team are not clinically trained and cannot provide therapeutic help or support if you experience distress. If you think that you may become distressed, then we urge you to consider whether you wish to take part. You can choose not to answer any question or take part in any exercise that you feel uncomfortable with.
We recognise that answering questions in the workshops or interviews about your experiences and your mental health can be sensitive and may cause distress. If you feel that answering questions about these topics would be too distressing, we advise you not to take part. You can choose not to answer any question that you feel uncomfortable with. The project team cannot provide mental health advice but will signpost you to relevant support services if you feel like you need additional support.
If you become distressed at any point during the course of the art project, then please contact the lead artist. We will then decide together whether you would like to continue with the art project or not. If you would like, a courtesy call will then be made in a days’ time to check in to see how you are feeling.
If you mention something during the course of the art project, which makes a member of the team think that you or someone else may be at risk of harm, then the project member may need to break confidentiality and to inform relevant members of authority so an appropriate course of action can be taken. There is only a duty to disclose confidential information if there is a risk of harm as this constitutes an emergency.
- Are there any benefits in taking part?
Previous participants in the project have felt better informed about breastfeeding practices and issues as a result of taking part in this art project. Some have also described long term emotional benefits of validation, empowerment and improved self esteem. These long term benefits have not been clinically measured and are not currently the main aims of the project, which is simply bringing about lasting change in attitudes to breastfeeding in the region.
- What will happen to the results of the art project?
We aim to publish the results of this art project in peer-reviewed academic journals and conferences. At the end of the seven months that you have taken part in this art project, you can indicate if you would like to receive a copy of the final written report(s) for this art project.
- What will happen if I want to stop taking part?
You can stop taking part at any time if you want, without explanation. If you would like to withdraw your participation then please contact the principal investigator, Lisa Creagh at lccreagh@icloud.com.
- Disclosure of criminal activity
In the event that disclosure of criminal activity is revealed during the art project then confidentiality may need to be broken to inform relevant members of authority.
- Who can I contact if I have further questions?
Please contact the project team with any questions you may have.
The Holding Time Project Team
Lisa Creagh
Lead Artist
lccreagh@lccreagh
07816577140
Project Partners
Creative Lives
Rachel New
Workshop Facilitator and Radio Producer
rachel.new@bbc.co.uk
Improving Me
Keeley McClennan
Engagement Manager
keeley.mcclennan@nhs.net
Data FAQs
How will my data be collected?
Workshop groups and interviews held over Zoom and will be audio recorded. Surveys will be completed online and sent via email links.
How will my data be stored?
Data will be made available through open access publishing and data sharing and may be used by other project members via a data repository e.g., Google Docs
How long will my data be stored for?
Identifiable information will safely stored at the point of art project completion i.e., when results have been written as a report and/or journal article manuscript. Anonymous, electronic information will be made available through open access publishing and data sharing and may be used by other project members via a data repository
What measures are in place to protect the security and confidentiality of my data?
All art project information will be stored on secure Holding Time computer servers and will be kept in password protected folders, only available to the project team. Identifiable information i.e., consent forms and contact details, will be stored securely and separately from all other art project documents and will be kept in storage when the art project is complete.
Will my data be anonymised?
Your name will be the title of your VLOG and portrait unless you request otherwise. Your personal data, such as home address, telephone etc will not be available to anyone outside of the project except in in the case of emergency.
How will my data be used?
Non anonymised non personal data may be used in peer reviewed publications and conference presentations.
Who will have access to my data?
Members of the project team, only, except in the case of emergency, outlined left (in green).
Will my data be archived for use in other project projects in the future?
Contributions to this art project will be made available to other project members through open access publishing and data sharing and may be used by other project members via a data repository e.g., Google Docs.
How will my data be destroyed?
Files will be destroyed at the end of the 10-year storage, using software designed to destroy all information from a device.