Project EDI
About Cultural Mapping
Cultural mapping is an arts based research method that allows participants to express their answers visually by creating a map. Cultural mapping is one of the most effective research methods for engaging vulnerable and marginalized populations as the mappers are experts sharing their lived and living experiences first on the page, and later in dialogue.
“Cultural mapping is a community-based and community-driven process of identifying, recording, and valuing local cultural assets, including both tangible assets (assets that have a physical presence) and intangible assets (the stories, traditions, and histories that make up our unique identity).”
-Greg Baeker
Once maps have been completed, the mapper is provided the opportunity to take the researcher on a tour of their map, which is audio recorded and then transcribed. The researcher collects the maps and eventually analyzes the data using a schema adapted from Kevin Lynch and his book The Image of the City, categorizing the data as landmarks, nodes, districts, edges and pathways.
The maps from Project EDI were displayed in a pop-up exhibition in the Sa-Hali Secondary School library, and have been further shared in a report and documentary film.