Turning base metal into gold: transmuting art, practice, research and experience into knowledge

This paper examines the theoretical underpinnings of an ongoing, innovative, arts-based social intervention research study in light of contemporary theory on knowledge production. It begins by outlining the nature of the study, which seeks to raise community awareness of domestic violence, and the context in which it is being conducted. Thereafter, it examines the relationship between social work and art and argues that the situated knowledge of Mode 2 knowledge production is more useful for social workers—and artists—engaged in participatory community practice than science-driven Mode 1.