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Art in Health in Practice

Collective Encounters - Now and Then (2010)

Now and Then (Photo: Pete Carr)
Now and Then (Photo: Pete Carr)

 Developed in partnership between Collective Encounters (a professional arts organisaiton specialising in theatre for social change) and PSS (national health and social care provider) Now and Then was an innovative project which set out to explore and platform the experiences of people with dementia and those who care for them.  The project resulted in a 40 minute interactive theatre piece which told the story of one woman’s journey through the stages of dementia and the experience of her daughter who became her carer.  It was performed to over 400 h

Musical Connections

Residents and children dancing together to Bob Marley
An adaptation of Chinese ribbon dancing
A songwriting session
Residents enjoying a workshop with children at Poppleton Road Primary School
An in-house inter-generational session

Musical Connections is an interactive music programme for older people living in City of York Council’s residential care homes, two of which cater specifically for people with dementia.

The council’s Adult Services department has sought to develop it into an integral part of the care on offer to residents and their families by working with Community Musician, Fiona Chapman, who conceived the programme following her own academic research, and who has day-to-day responsibility for running and developing it.

Central & Cecil residents are Growing Old Disgracefully!

Mr Ali Dancing (Photo: Hester Jones)
Growing Old Disgracefully 1 ( Photo: Hester Jones)
Growing Old Disgracefully 2 ( Photo: Hester Jones)

On Wednesday 9 March 2011 around 65 older people including residents from Central & Cecil, Ealing Family Housing and Lewisham Homes, gathered at the Rivoli Ballroom, Brockley, London, to celebrate ‘growing old disgracefully’ with a day of fun, laughter and ballroom dancing.

Blue Bell Centre, Huyton, Knowsley

The bulbs were filled with coloured sand by local chidren
The bulbs were suspended below the glass roof in the atrium
The wooden triangles were sealed for hygiene but a tactile element is achieved
Each surgery is signified by a different colour from the scheme for easy wayfind
Steve Des Landes’ bench draws upon the history of the area

The Blue Bell Centre in Knowsley had a tough job to do. Several separate GP surgeries were moving into one brand new space, to offer a streamlined and more effective central resource for the community; and whilst the new centre offered a brighter, more pleasant environment than before, some patients were worried that the move meant that the GP practices were all merging, and were sad to see the old surgeries being moved.

The East Kent ‘Singing for Health’ Network

Since September 2009, this innovative community music project has involved over 100 people with a history of serious and enduring mental health issues in regular singing activity to promote wellbeing and health.

The John Coupland Hospital history mural

Section of the final mural
Artefacts charting the history of the hospital since its inception were collecte
The impressive oak panelled staircase at the John Coupland Hospital
The mural was covered in brown paper, dramatically ripped off at the official un
Visitors to the hospital spend a long time studying the mural

The John Coupland Community Hospital in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, has a long and interesting history.

The West Wing - Barts and the London Breast Care Centre

James Aldridge, 'Twilight', acrylic on canvas/hardboard, vinyl and perspex, 2004
Shahzia Sikander, Land-escapes', digital prints, 2004
Rowena Dring, think of paradise', fabric applique, 2004
George Shaw, Home, Humbrol paint and board, 2004
Cornelia Parker, Still Life with Reflection, domestic silverware, 2004

The award winning Barts and the London Breast Care Centre is considered a pioneering example of public art commissioning in a healthcare setting.

The King’s Fund’s Enhancing the Healing Environment Programme

 The Enhancing the Healing Environment (EHE) programme was launched by HRH The Prince of Wales, President of The King’s Fund in 2000, as part of The King’s Fund’s activities to mark the millennium.

Full Circle Theatre Group develop Happiness

Members of Full Circle Theatre Group

Having showcased their talent in their debut film screening, the Full Circle Theatre Group are preparing for their first live performance at ARC.  The group of adults with learning disabilities will perform this new devised piece of theatre on Thursday 1 July 2010.

Multi-Sector Approaches to Pandemic Planning and Responses: Embedding Arts and Culture in Strategy

Over 2010/11, Arts for Health is working with the Asia Europe Foundation to explore possible pandemic threats of the future and how businesses, governments and civil society might best prepare for these. Working with 26 high-level participants from multiple sectors including scientists, epidemiologists, governments, the media, wider health sectors and NGO’s we are exploring scenarios and strategies for enhanced pandemic preparedness.

Supported by the Arts Council England