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Blog

22 September 2020

Creating the best possible experience for participants remotely – advice from the field

We asked a few arts and mental health organisations how they made the made the transition - from physical spaces to remote - whilst making their sessions safe, comfortable and creative. Reflections below!

11 September 2020

Our first round of grants for arts and mental health

We are delighted to be awarding 87 new grants this week to organisations working in arts and mental health. Here the Director of the Foundation and of our Arts Programme explains the thinking behind the awards we have made.

2 September 2020

Artists on the frontline – what support is available for artists’ wellbeing?

Practitioner wellbeing in the arts & (mental) health field has rightly become a hot topic, with the impact of COVID-19 on livelihoods making it only more so. We asked a few organisations what support they offer or would like to offer.

How literature can be a lifeline to support mental health

Rachel Parker of The Reader in Liverpool explains how they use shared reading of great literature to help improve mental health and resilience in settings including prisons, secure mental health units and the community.

Something to look forward to and rely on: creativity and mental health at Oakleaf Enterprises

Oakleaf are a mental health charity in Guildford, Surrey, offering creative workshops alongside other services to people recovering from mental ill-health.

Introducing Creatively Minded and Young

Our new report features 17 great organisations who work around arts and mental health with children and young people. Here are some of the observations we drew from reading and talking to them about their work.

Project eARTh: how High Peak Community Arts lifted spirits in lockdown

Project eARTh is a rural arts and mental health programme run by High Peak Community Arts, which champions collective working to create both indoor and outdoor artworks for the community.

Have a go

Chris Fite-Wassilak

With the release this month of the Artist in Time, commissioned by the Baring Foundation, Chris Fite-Wassilak talks about the making of the book and the perspectives it provided.

Clinging on in a tsunami

François Matarasso

Arts and health projects are vital in helping people cope and recover from the pandemic and its consequences - but the DCMS rescue package - welcome though it is - may not reach the small organisations and artists who do this work.

ARC Stockport: involving student social workers in creativity and mental health

ARC is a leading arts and mental health organisation which has for a number of years hosted student social workers as part of its creative programmes. Its Artistic Director, Jacqui Wood, explains.