This year’s Arts ‘n’ Care conference will take place on Thursday 30 October in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

The day long event looks at the ways in which the arts can be used to improve communication and build confidence and self-esteem among mental health service users. Including workshops, speeched and performances from Sound Minds, Lapidus, John Hegley and CandoCo among others, the day is suitable for organisations and individuals looking to employ the arts in their provision of mental health services.

For more details, visit: www.rightthing.co.uk

An exhibition of artist Susan Aldworth’s latest work, including a number of pieces created on location at the Royal London Hospital, will take place from 26 July to 17 August at the Transition Gallery, E8. The work explores the nature of consciousness by utilising the technology associated with brain scans and the techniques of etching to explore personality, identity and self.

This year’s Big Draw will take place from 26 to 28 September and will utilise the theme, Drawing on Life. The national launch will take place at the Wellcome Collection, other Big Draw partners include Queen Mary, University of London and University College London.

w: www.thebigdraw.org.uk

The Sidney de Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health is hosting a conference to explore the possible health benefits of active participation in music making and singing.

The conference, which aims to provide an overview of current developments in research into music and health, will take place from the 9th – 10th September in Folkestone. Keynote speakers include Professor Gene Cohen from The Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University Medical Center and Dr Gary Ansdell from the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Centre.

For more details, visit: www.canterbury.ac.uk/centres/sidney-de-haan-research/conference

The fifth annual meeting of the Association for Medical Humanities UK will take place at the University of Glasgow from 8th – 9th July.

Presentations are currently invited on all aspects of medical humanities especially visual arts and medicine and themes relating to architecture and design in healthcare. The deadline for submissions is 15th March.

For more information, e: slv1h@clinmed.gla.ac.uk.

A Symposium on creativity and the health and care workforce will take place on 29th March at Royal Holloway, University of London. The event will look at the ways creativity can be nurtured and encouraged amongst the wide range of practitioners that make up the health and care workforce.

Further information can be found at: www.rhul.ac.uk/Drama/creativityandhealth

‘Embracing Our Past, Shaping Our Future: 21st Century Innovations' is the title of the annual conference of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare, which will take place from April 16th - 19th in Philadelphia.

For more information, visit: www.thesah.org

Myrtle Theatre Company's City of One, a play with music performed by a cast of professional actors, musicians and a group of young people in the care of Bristol City Council, will be performed at the Abbey Community Centre, Great Smith Street, London SW1 on Thursday 21st February at 4pm and 6.30pm.

Tickets are free, for more information, e: info@myrtletheatrecompany.co.uk

The Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health is currently researching the possible health benefits of active participation in music making and singing. It is planning a conference this September to mark the third anniversary of the establishment of the Centre in Folkestone.

The conference, Music and Health: Current Developments in Research and Practice, aims to look into the use of music in health and social care settings, and music in public health promotion and community development.

For more information, visit: www.canterbury.ac.uk/centres/sidney-de-haan-research/conference

An International Conference on Art, Museums and Visual Impairment will take place at the V&A on Thursday 29th November.

The conference aims to empower arts organisations to engage creatively with visually impaired people through visual art. A collaboration between St Dunstan’s, the V&A and Goldsmiths, the event will bring together an international line up of artists, academics and staff from museums and galleries who are leading the field in this area.

w: www.sam-culture.com/work-in-touch-with-art.htm