A symposium exploring the relationship between meaningful arts engagement and individual and community wellbeing
Hosted by Creative People and Places network and Super Slow Way in partnership with the Culture Health & Wellbeing Alliance
Where: University of Central Lancashire, Burnley Campus, 14 June 2019, 10:00 – 16:30
**UPDATE. Watch our film of The Art of Wellbeing and read reflections of the event on our blog.
As part of Creativity and Wellbeing Week, this symposium explored the meeting places between the culture and health sectors, with a focus on wellbeing.
The event put the relationship between collaborative and participatory art and the wellbeing of individuals and communities under the magnifying glass, exploring questions such as: Does working collaboratively with people to choose and create art that is of, with and by their community have a lasting impact on wellbeing? What about art's capacities to unsettle and challenge? Can art really make people feel better?
There was a mix of provocations, discussion sessions and case studies led by artists, health professionals, participants and researchers. Conversation, debate and the exchange of learning was at the core of the event. Themes included:
- Current creative practice – who’s pushing the boundaries of this work?
- Artist or social worker? Responsible commissioning and how to meet the needs of artists in the arts and wellbeing field.
- Is it the role of the arts to deliver a health and wellbeing agenda?
- Innovative collaborations outside the cultural sector
- Impact of recent policy and research on practice
- Developing the tools and evidence base to measure impact
Speakers included activist Patrick Vernon, Arti Prashar of Spare Tyre Theatre, Katey Warran from University of Edinburgh, Dr Yoon Irons from the University of Derby, Damian Hebron from NESTA, Francesca Joy from Imagine If, artists Sheila Ghelani and Claire Wellesley-Smith, Laurie Peake from Super Slow Way, Ros Abercrombie from Regional Arts Australia, Deborah Clark from Community Solutions North West and Niina Molière Palapa, a resident of Hounslow. The symposium also included contributions from East Durham Creates, bait and Creative People and Places Hounslow.
You can download the programme below
