Mounting evidence shows that participation in arts activities drastically improves health outcomes, increases wellbeing and community engagement and is impactful in countering social inequalities. This work is a potent preventative measure, engaging people before their health deteriorates to the point where a medical intervention becomes necessary.
Create Gloucestershire’s participatory arts focus has been to connect artists and organisations in our network who deliver high quality participatory arts interventions in pursuit of improved health & wellbeing. There is a wealth of activity across the county; delivered in both healthcare settings and at a community level.
Image: Can’t Sit Still by Lisa Whiting
Examples of participatory arts & health activity include:
Image: Off we Go
Creative Box Delivery network: Create Gloucestershire has been the catalyst for a a creative box movement in the county, supporting and connecting organisations and artists who can offer ‘home delivered’ art kits and activities to families in need during Covid 19.
Look Again is working in partnership with Create Gloucestershire to deliver a test programme - with funding from BUPA - to deliver mindful photography opportunities to people in middle age who are living with anxiety and poor mental health.
Can’t Sit Still have been working in children’s centres in the Forest of Dean and Cheltenham to create an immersive, intimate, multi-sensory show for new mothers and babies up to 8 months old. The project explores the connection between mother and baby aiming to have a positive effect on maternal wellbeing of participants and audiences.
The ‘Off We Go’ project was was a collaboration between arts centres, Create Local place based alliance Cam & Dursley Creatives and the NHS, led by GP Simon Opher. This was a series of peaceful and engaging free activities for people in Berkeley, Cam, Dursley, Sharpness, Wotton-under-Edge and surrounding village who were feeling more anxious, especially when faced with going out after the pandemic.