Friday 27 May 2011

Networking, Dementia, Australia and a Breakthrough...

Networking Evening
I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who came along last night and took part in this session. I really enjoyed the very animated conversation and am keen to take some of the ideas we discussed forward. For those of you who didn't attend the ares we really got to grips with were focused on the relationship between artists who work in the broad field of Arts/Health and colleagues in the Arts Therapy field. An outcome of this discussion will be to form a small group who'll pull together a statement that best encapsulates this relationship allowing for synergy and difference, but crucially, offering dialogue and mutuality.


We had some very passionate and interesting discussions around dementia and the arts and I'm sure all who came along last night would want to give a huge thanks to Zoe Keenan who shared her personal experiences around caring for her mum and her creative response to this experience. On the basis of this exciting work and suggestions form the group, we are going to explore some very interesting work in the region. I very much look forward to our next meeting and thanks again for everyone in making this such an enjoyable and inspirational evening.


Australia Calling
I am thrilled to be speaking at this conference. If you want to know more about it, or hear from Arts for Health Australia’s inspirational leader, please come along and meet Margret Meagher at the Head to Head here at MMU on June 30th (full details over the next two weeks). My paper this year at the Canberra conference will explore the relationship between Design, the Arts and Health with a specific focus on how the last days of our lives are often far removed than what we’d hope they might be like.

“The Aboriginal Memorial 1987-88, Ramingining Artists, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, photographer credit John Gollings
3rd Annual International Arts and Health Conference:
The Art of Good Health and Wellbeing
14 - 18 November 2011
National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT

The Art of Good Health and Wellbeing, 3rd Annual International Arts and Health Conference, will present best practice and innovative arts and health programs, effective health promotion and prevention campaigns, methods of project evaluation and scientific research. The 2011 Conference will continue to have a special focus on mental health and creative ageing, including programs for people with dementia and their carers; as well as workplace wellbeing programs; arts and health programs for Aboriginal communities; the built environment, design and health; medical education and medical humanities. http://www.artsandhealth.org/ 



Breakthrough: Art in Mental Health
Damian Hebron and Mike Farrer will both be speaking at Breakthrough’s third ARTS in Health Event:
‘Where to Next…?’
Location : NHS North West, 3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester
Date: 10th of June, 2011. 9:30-3pm
http://breakthroughmhart.com/


Towards a National Forum for Arts and Health Many of you will know that I sit on a group that has been looking at the notion of a National Forum for Arts and Health, following the collapse of the NNAH in 2007. I’ve been working with colleagues around the country to explore ways forward, and the linked report has been made by the external consultants Globe to help inform this direction. I would be grateful for any thoughts on this linked document, which I will feed into the forum at our next meeting. http://www.artsforhealth.org/resources/final_national_forum_report.pdf
If you would like me to email a copy of the SUMMARY REPORT, please email me directly.

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