LAHF Newsletter September 2009

LAHF News

We are in the process of revamping the LAHF website and one of the new features will be an online archive of London arts in health projects. We are very keen for you to let us know about current or recent London projects that you think should be included. Please send no more than one side A4 of text explaining the project and up to five jpegs of no more than 1mb each to info@lahf.org.uk

Events

Last few places at Thinking About Looking

LAHF's next event is a seminar for senior arts managers and health professionals working in integrated partnership practice.

‘Thinking About Looking' is a partnership programme between Learning at Tate Modern and East London NHS Foundation Trust which has involved Tate Modern hosting team days for groups of NHS staff, carers, and service user representatives to explore the role of the art gallery as a learning resource. Participants have had the opportunity to look together at art works and learn how to use them as a starting point for reflective discussion, understanding and further exploration.

National News

Dance Champions Group

Health Secretary Andy Burnham MP has announced the Government's intention to increase the nation's physical activity, including backing a new Dance Champions Group. Members of the Group include former Chair of the English National Ballet Angela Rippon, Arlene Phillips, Lisa Snowdon and Darren Bennett who, together, will run a national campaign to boost participation in dance in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics.

Event 

Inspiring Transformations: Applied Arts and Health Conference                                                

Aimed at a wide community of artists, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in the area of Applied Arts and Health the three day conference takes place from the 8^th to the 10^th September at The University of Northampton. The event builds on the 2007 conference hosted by Northampton University and a few final delegate places are available.

For further information e: Karen.haines@northampton.ac.uk;
w: www.northampton.ac.uk/artsandhealth

Other Events

The Art of Good Health and Wellbeing              

Australia's international conference on health and creativity The Art of Good Health and Wellbeing will take place 7^th to 13^th November. For further information visit http://www.artsandhealth.org/ .

Opportunities 

Who Cares?

Renaissance North West, part of the DCMS's £300m Renaissance in the Regions programme, have announced a funded research brief to investigate the impact of Renaissance North West's ‘Who Cares? Health, Wellbeing and Museums programme'. Working with a number of museums and galleries in the North West, the successful applicant will compile comprehensive research to answer the question: what are the benefits to people's health and wellbeing of engaging with museum collections and gallery spaces? Deadline for applications is 12pm 28th September, for further information contact Myna Trustram, e: M.trustram@manchester.gov.uk

London News 

Liberty Festival

The Liberty Festival 2009, a celebration of the cultural contribution of London's Deaf and disabled people, will take place on Saturday 5^th September from 1 to 6pm. Free to attend, the festival will see Trafalgar Square transformed into an accessible performance space showcasing the talents of Deaf and disabled artists. For further information, w: www.london.gov.uk/liberty 

Opportunities 

Warwickshire Arts in Health

Warwickshire County Council is looking to appoint an agency to take forward an innovative arts and health programme. The programme will aim to embed understanding of best practice in commissioning an arts and health project delivery within the arts, social care and health sectors in the county. The deadline for proposals is 25^th September, for further information e: countyartsservice@warwickshire.gov.uk .

Opportunities 

Call for Artist's Proposals

The Colne Gallery at Colchester Hospital is looking for artists' proposals for its coming year of exhibitions. For further information contact Clive Wakeford at artbyclive@yahoo.co.uk .

Other Events 

Understanding Evaluation

Understanding Evaluation is a one day event organised by Arts and Health South West to explore evaluation, how it can improve standards, accountability and best practice in arts in health. Taking place on 30^th September at the Gloucester Resource Centre in Gloucester the event costs £10 for members and £40 for AHSW members. For further information contact Sally Bramley at admin@ahsw.org.uk .

Opportunities 

Invitation to Submit

In advance of their Annual International Conference in spring 2010, the Society for the Arts in Healthcare has announced an invitation to submit abstracts for presentation at the conference. The deadline for submissions is 25^th September, for further information, visit w: http.thesah.org/template/page.cfm?page%20id=21

News 

Making Art Available to All

A report recently commissioned by the Society for All Artists (SAA) and carried out by researchers from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham has found that self-confidence, esteem, self-worth and socialisation was gained through engagement with art. The research, conducted in care homes, hospices, hospitals and people's own homes within Nottinghamshire, also concluded that arts activities offered people the opportunity to view themselves beyond their illness; affording them a new identity based on capability rather than disability.

Visit http://saa.co.uk/images/pdfs/GTA_Evaluation_0709.pdf to read or download the full report.

Other Events 

The Reading Cure

The Reading Cure is a conference that will showcase the innovative Get Into Reading and Feel Better With A Book programmes currently taking place in Essex. Developed by The Reader Organisation and funded by NHS South West Essex the programmes have been applauded by Professor Louis Appleby, NHS Director for Mental Health as "exactly the kind of work that we at the Department of Health want to develop over the next ten years". The Reading Cure takes place at Essex Record Office in Chelmsford on 1^st October. For further information and to book a place contact Shelley.bennett@essex.gov.uk .

Opportunities 

Creativity Centre Co-ordinator

Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust is looking to recruit a part-time Centre Co-ordinator for its Creativity Centre. The Creativity Centre is an Arts Studio based in a Resource Centre for people with mental health needs in Islington. To apply , visit http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/ quoting reference MH 5856, the closing date for applications is 14^th September.

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