Care Aesthetics

What if the work of a nurse, physio, or homecare worker was designated an art, so that the qualities of the experiences they create became understood as aesthetic qualities? What if the interactions created by artists, directors, dancers, or workshop facilitators were understood as works of care? Care Aesthetics is the first full-length book to explore these questions and examine the work of carer artists and artist carers to make the case for the importance of valuing and supporting aesthetically caring relations across multiple aspects of our lives. Theoretically and practically, the book outlines the implications of care aesthetics for the socially engaged arts field and health and social care, and for acts of aesthetic care in the everyday. Part 1 of the book outlines the approaches to aesthetics and to care theory that are necessary to make and defend the concept of care aesthetics. Part 2 then tests this through practice, examining socially engaged arts and health and social care through its lens. It makes the case for careful art exploring the implications of care aesthetics for participatory or applied arts. Then it argues for artful care and how an aesthetic orientation to care practices might challenge some of the inadequacies of contemporary care. This is a vital, paradigm-shifting book for anyone engaged with socially engaged arts or social and health care practices on an academic or professional level.

James Thompson is Professor of Applied Theatre at the University of Manchester, where he has held senior roles, most recently as Vice President for Social Responsibility. He was the co-founder of the Theatre in Prisons and Probation Centre, the arts organisation, In Place of War, and has run arts projects in conflict zones internationally. He has written widely on applied theatre and the socially engaged arts.

Part 1: Care Aesthetics 1. What is the aesthetics of care aesthetics? 2. What is the care of care aesthetics? Part 2: Care Aesthetics in Practice 3. Careful Art 4. Artful Care Everyday Care Aesthetics