This evening I had an online meeting with two members of the ethics committee for OCA, Christian and Moira. My project has raised some ethical questions and concerns in terms of the the nature of my subject, the visual images, the intended video and collaboration with other parties including the distribution of a survey/questionnaire. The visual images and video would be part of an exhibition and the body of work, supports and is related to my critical review. Before the meeting began I had sent to the couple answers to several questions they had put forward in an email.
After introductions Moira asked me to give a brief overview of the project which I gladly did and then this helped to begin the discussion around any concerns.
I was able to firstly reassure Moira and Christian that my topic was related to art as I was also researching how other artists portray death and dying. We discussed as already identified how it might be considered as insensitive to families who’s children have died to have their portraits painted. I had explained how I would address this if there was any complaint but as a compromise and to minimise any risk of complaint, I agreed to undertake portraits of the children who had dies very early on since 1945. I explained that I had discovered one or two of the children on a website called find my grave and they were clearly without anyone close to them. I wanted to do some portraits as it was important for the children to be seen and to have a voice.
We discussed other sensitive imagery and the couple had seen my blog. I raised how there would be warnings about the exhibition as this was very important to me that I didn’t causes people any distress. I mentioned that I had other skilled people, mainly ex-colleagues who would also be present at any exhibition to provide any emotional support necessary. The project was however aimed at raising awareness of abuse and deaths and how children are in vulnerable positions. I discussed a couple of examples of my experience of visiting exhibitions at the Royal Academy, where I believed there should have included more warnings. I shared with the couple that I had still to complete one or two drawings. The main one was around communication and I described this to them. Moira gave me one or two suggestions of artists work to follow up and consider before I finalise the piece in case it may cause some controversy. I agreed to follow up the artists work she suggested I look at.
We discussed the video and my possible collaboration with a sixth form local college. I had sent through details to them of how this would be managed from the first meeting with the tutor. The decisions about agreeing for the students to take part would be down to the tutor and the college once I had shared with her the full nature of the work. The couple questioned whether there was anyone involved in any of my work who would fall under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and I was able to confirm that there would not be anyone vulnerable in this regard. It was at this juncture that I mentioned I was aware that the OU is a provider of Social Work training. In this regard I wanted to reassure Moira and Christian that I was not intending to berate Social Work and that my project is looking at a lot of wider issues. I mentioned that I was looking at a range of issues in regard to why children might be dying including, societal changes, social media and changes in social work. I stated that I was hoping that the OU might embrace my project. For example it might be possible for the video to be used for training purposes.
We finally discussed the survey and my intended questionnaire. I explained that I had focussed the questionnaire to fill in some of the gaps that were in the inquiry reports I had read. I read to them an extract from one of the reports that raised quite pertinent issues that could be possible contributory factors around the deaths, but that there seemed to be no follow up on these issues in the inquiries. I stated that I could undertake my critical review without doing the survey but there would be information missing. I did have a lot of support from health and social care workers and teachers that would be happy to complete etc. They agreed to the survey and suggested it was sent via OCA email to authenticate where it was coming from as I was a student. They also suggested I use google docs to send out the questionnaire. I was happy for this.
As the meeting concluded I thanked the couple for their help and support support. I felt they were being very thoughtful and considerate about not just how the work might be received and viewed by the public but also considerate of my feelings and motivations too.
Endless Possibilities 