Positioning Arts Practices for Inclusion as a National Framework for Relational and Systemic Inclusion

Positioning Arts Practices for Inclusion as a National Framework for Relational and Systemic Inclusion emerges from over a decade of practice, research, and reflection at Snehadhara Foundation. It traces the evolution of work that began with Arts-Based Therapy (ABT) in direct-care settings and expanded into Arts Practices for Inclusion (API)—a broader framework that engages not only individual development but also the relational and systemic conditions that shape inclusion.

At its core, this work recognises that inclusion cannot be achieved through individual interventions alone. While early practice demonstrated measurable improvements in developmental and emotional outcomes, it also revealed a critical gap: therapeutic progress does not automatically translate into belonging within social environments. API emerges from this insight, reframing the arts as relational and participatory processes that influence group dynamics, institutional cultures, and community engagement.

Drawing on interdisciplinary research, longitudinal studies, and practitioner-led inquiry, this book presents a robust evidence base for arts-based approaches as tools for building inclusive systems. It positions the arts not merely as modes of expression, but as a language through which individuals and communities can experience participation, connection, and belonging. In doing so, it offers a transferable framework for educators, practitioners, and institutions seeking to embed inclusion as a lived, measurable, and evolving practice.

*This work has been authored by Yashaswini Gupta, Shreya Talwar, Vidhula S, and Dr Gitanjali G Govindrajan.