Art in Social Work Practice (Routledge Advances in Social Work)

This is the first book ever to be published on arts use in social work. Bringing together theoretical connections between arts and social work, and with practice examples of arts in micro and macro social work practice from around the world, the book aims to inspire the reader with new ideas. It provides specific skills, defines what is social rather than fine or projective art use, and explains the theoretical connection between art and social work. It has chapters from all over the world, showing how arts are adjusted to different cultural contexts.

Section I explores the theoretical connections between art and social work, including theories of resilience, empowerment, inclusion and creativity as they relate to art use in social work. Section II describes specific interventions with different populations. Each chapter also summarizes the skills and hands-on knowledge needed for social workers to use the practical elements of using arts for social workers not trained in these fields. The third section does the same for arts use in community work and as social change and policy.

Using Art in Social Work Practice provides theoretical but also hands-on knowledge about using arts in social work. It extends the fields of both social work and arts therapy and serves as a key resource for students, academics and practitioners interested in gaining the theoretical understanding and specific skills for using social arts in social work, and for arts therapists interested in using social theories.

Ephrat Huss is a professor of social work and art therapist at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. She heads an innovative MA social work specialization on arts for social work practice and she has published extensively on arts for social workers and on using arts-based research to access the experience of marginalized groups.

Eltje Bos is a professor of cultural and social dynamics at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and a drama teacher; the role and impact of arts in social work is one of her fields of research. With her research group and the BA and MA in social work, she explores, with the use of arts-based research, how social and cultural activities can enhance liveability in a diverse and dynamic city.