This document reports on a collaborative arts initiative, “Seeing through open eyes”, in Spalding, Lincolnshire.

This photography project was part of an ongoing partnership between Transported, (a community-based programme focused on participatory arts activities), and Elsoms (a well-established family owned seed company).

Two artists from Electric Egg were commissioned to train staff at Elsoms in photography skills, via 17 workshops, leading to a final exhibition of work which was then placed around the workplace in 2016.

The report contains a Social Return On Investment analysis of the project and examines its cultural and social impact on stakeholders. It also evaluates to what extent the project a) increased empathy in the workplace; b) achieved the Transported vision of “making the everyday exceptional”; and c) met the intention of the Arts Council, (a funder of Transported) to bring arts to new places.

MB Associates (2016) Seeing through new eyes: Transported evaluation report, Elsoms photography project. Kendal: MB Associates