Are you new to Creative Health or are you long in the tooth? In recent years, the concept of "Creative Health" has gained considerable momentum, highlighting the profound impact of creative arts on health and well-being. At its core, Creative Health is about harnessing the transformative power of arts and culture to improve physical and mental health outcomes. This innovative approach is not just about art therapy; it's about integrating artistic practice into health care and community settings to foster resilience, enhance mental health, and promote holistic healing.
My parents are artists in Western Australia and I grew up watching them adopt community development practices to engage grassroots communities for public art projects, particularly First Nations people. I was lucky to witness the power of creative practice for self expression, particularly for underheard communities. When I first came to the UK 23 years ago, there wasn’t much ‘space’ for creative practice in serious places, such as the NHS.
It wasn’t until I was united with two fabulous women, Frances Frifkin and Sandra Griffiths that I had the opportunity to play. Two decades later the emergence of the National Centre for Creative Health shows us the landscape has changed and I thought it useful to share one of our collaborations with the aforementioned dynamite, Sandra.
In February 2022, Sandra reached out for support in developing a consultation to shape a creative health project, and develop a training programme in Birmingham, aimed at training Global Majority artists to facilitate creative sessions within secure mental health settings and the broader community. The results were nothing short of transformative. Sandra has been campaigning and running similar projects for more than 30 years, tackling mental health inequalities and supporting the recovery journey of Black men and women in the mental health system.
What’s the big deal?
Creative arts have a unique ability to transcend traditional therapeutic boundaries. Whether it's through painting, music, dance, spoken word or drama, creative expression allows individuals to explore their emotions, tell their stories, and connect with others in profound ways. In mental health settings, where individuals often face significant challenges, the arts can offer a vital outlet for expression and a pathway to recovery.
Red Earth Collective project exemplified this potential by empowering Global Majority artists to bring their rich cultural perspectives into mental health care. These artists were trained to lead creative sessions, providing patients and community members with opportunities to engage in creative activities that promote well-being and healing.
Sharing Our Practice at the Creative Health Symposium.
On June 27th, 2024, the People Street and Red Earth Collective teams had the honour of sharing their practice at the Creative Health symposium during the SHAPER conference hosted by the National England Ballet and King's College London. This symposium provided an invaluable platform to showcase the impact of their work and to highlight the broader implications of creative health interventions.
During the presentation, we emphasised the importance of training artists from diverse backgrounds to lead creative health projects. By doing so, they not only enriched the cultural landscape of mental health care but also addressed systemic inequalities within the arts and health sectors. The project demonstrated how creative health initiatives could foster inclusion, resilience, and well-being in marginalised communities.
The symposium also allowed for the exchange of ideas and best practices among professionals from various fields. The People Street and Red Earth Collective teams shared their methodologies, challenges, and successes, contributing to a growing body of evidence supporting the efficacy of creative health approaches.
A Vision for the Future
The Red Earth Collective’s project is a testament to the transformative potential of creative health. By training Global Majority artists and integrating their work into mental health settings and the community, this project has paved the way for more inclusive and effective health interventions.
The impact of this work extends beyond the individuals directly involved; it signals a broader shift towards recognising and valuing the role of arts and culture in health care. As we continue to explore and expand the field of creative health, initiatives like this one serve as powerful examples of how the arts can heal, connect, and empower communities.
To the People Street team, this is another example of design justice in practice. Through collaboration we share our inclusive practice with a range of communities (artistic communities, grassroots communities, health practitioners) with the aim of reducing inequity, promoting agency and centring inclusion.
In the coming years, it is essential to build on these foundations, fostering collaborations that bring together diverse voices and perspectives. By doing so, we can ensure that creative health becomes an integral part of our health care systems, enriching the lives of individuals and communities across the UK and beyond.
Comments