RSPH Arts and Health Awards 2011
The winners of the Royal Society for Arts and Health Awards 2011 have now been announced. The award scheme was established in 2008 in association with Canterbury Christ Church University and its Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health. The theme of this year’s awards was the contribution of arts, music and cultural organisations to community health and healthcare. The Society received over 40 nominations from across the UK.
Winners of the 2011 awards are:
Dulwich Picture Gallery, for their ‘Good Times: Art for Older People’ project, exploring the value of gallery visits and workshops for promoting wellbeing and tackling social isolation among older people, including those affected by dementia. The evaluation of this project by Prof. Sarah Harper of the Oxford Institute of Ageing also receives an award for excellence in research.
w: www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/education/community_outreach/good_times...
Renaissance North West consortium of museums and galleries, for their ‘Who Cares?’ project exploring the value of access to heritage collections in promoting wellbeing and social inclusion among people affected by mental health issues. The evaluation of this project by Prof. Lynn Frogett of the University of Central Lancashire also receives an award for excellence in research.
w: www.mla.gov.uk/what/programmes/renaissance/regions/north_west/news/publi...
Ex Cathedra choir for their ‘Singing Medicine’ project bringing music and song into Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Ex Cathedra have worked with children, parents and staff in Birmingham Children’s Hospital promoting the value of singing for supporting the healing and wellbeing of sick children.
w: www.excathedra.co.uk/singing_medicine.php?submenuheader=3
Evaluation of the ‘Sing Up’ initiative in England, by Prof. Graham Welch of the Institute of Education, University of London. ‘Sing Up’ is a national initiative in England to promote the place of singing in primary schools.
w: www.singup.org/ www.imerc.org/research_nsp.php
Special commendations were also given to:
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in partnership with NHS Mersey Care Trust – the role of music making in supporting mental health recovery
Spitalfields Music in partnership with Vital Arts – lullabies for babies in intensive care
University College London Museums & Collections and University College Hospital Arts Programme (UCLH Arts) - the Heritage in Hospitals project
Welsh National Opera in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society – supporting access to performing arts for people with Alzheimer’s and their carers
Women in Theatre – for their project WASTED – on women and alcohol
Streetwise Opera – for their work through music giving homeless people a voice
