Since May 2006, I have been keeping a journal with links to press articles about arts and health initiatives and topics. The articles are mostly from the UK press with a few from America and the Republic of Ireland. It is not a comprehensive list, and I add items to it as and when I find them. I have found a good way to pick up articles that I might not otherwise have spotted is to set up a Google alert for 'art, OR arts, OR hospital, OR health, OR NHS -state-of-the-art location:uk [the state-of-the-art part is so it doesn't link to articles including that phrase, which seems to be used constantly in healthcare reporting and has nothing to do with art in our sense].
Leaving aside articles that are straight reporting of an arts project that has taken place in a hospital, it's noticeable how polarised debate is between those who argue that art(s) in the NHS is a waste of money and those arguing for a humane environment for patients. The question of who funded the work is generally treated as a complete irrelevance, which I would argue it isn't, as you can't 'waste public money' if it's not public money. You can find examples of strongly positive and negative articles in the same newspaper in the same year. It's actually a fascinating topic because of all the agendas competing to be heard in even the simplest article.
I'm with Prince Charles on this one. As he has noted: "It can't be easy to be healed in a soulless concrete box with characterless windows, inhospitable corridors, and purely functional wards. The spirit needs healing as well as the body." You can make that argument as he does, from a spiritual point of view, or you might just note that anti-depressant drugs are extremely expensive.
Disclaimer: I am not responsible for the context of external websites.
Aug 8
2011
Posted by: Josie
I’ve just finished an update of the Advice section on Creative Remedies. It has a slight focus on the West Midlands, but much of the content is generally applicable to anyone looking to start or develop an arts and health project (I hope). Thank you Owen for the commission, and also Willis Newson, Claire Pope and Seed Studios/BlueSCI for helping me with some of the content.
http://www.creative-remedies.org.uk/Directory.aspx?vtype=Advice
Aug 5
2011
Posted by: Josie
Hurray, the Arts & Minds video is finally up from the Arts on Prescription project in Cambridgeshire for which I was the researcher during 2009-10. I’ve been working with them recently on fundraising and it now looks like they can continue the programme, which is great. The video comprises short interviews with participants in the project and staff from Arts & Minds.
http://www.artsandminds.org.uk/programmes/community/index.html
Jul 16
2011
Posted by: Josie
Okay, so this is arts and science related rather than arts and health, but I was so amused by Stitch and Bitch’s latest project for the Science Museum, I had to post it here. I particularly like the miniature knitted Brian Cox, with ‘volcano’.
http://stitchandbitchlondon.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/stitched-science-in-pictures/
Jul 3
2011
Posted by: Josie
Interesting article in today’s Times about the US military using performances of Sophocles’ plays to help with combat stress.
I’m afraid it’s behind the pay wall though.
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/world_news/Americas/article661665.ece
Jun 23
2011
Posted by: Josie
My former colleague Claire Pope has allowed me to post some guidelines for artists she commissioned for Tonic back in 2006. They are particularly aimed at performing artists and cover a wide variety of topics from child protection, to infection control, to protecting the wellbeing of the artist. Well worth a read, as I don’t believe there’s anything similar out there at the moment that goes into such depth. Sadly, Tonic closed earlier this year but at least some of its work can live on, online.
They’re on the Resources page here: www.josieaston.co.uk/arts-and-health-resources.
Jun 23
2011
Posted by: Josie
A couple of recent press articles (Source: SAH bulletin. Yes it is a little ironic that one of the best sources of articles about UK arts and health is American…)
Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire are about to launch a study into the possible benefits of dance for Parkinson’s patients (video):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13630919
‘The NHS is backing a trial scheme at Mayfield Garden Nursery in Southampton’ (this is a rather chatty article written by someone already convinced of the benefits of gardening — and I would be interested to know what ‘backing’ means as it wouldn’t surprise me to find a charity is in fact paying). The first comment, by someone who has experienced severe depression, is insightful and a good corrective to the light tone of the article.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394693/As-NHS-prescribes-gardening-cure-blues-Dont-pop-pills–just-grow-peonies.html#ixzz1Q5gZSoMU
Jun 20
2011
Posted by: Josie
A quirky look at some recent research from the University of Glasgow on the benefits of quilting.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/8573211/Unravelling-secrets-in-crafty-stitchwork.html
The abstract is here (as the Tele article doesn’t link to the actual research):
http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/52758/
May 14
2011
Posted by: Josie
A day of discussion and learning for Arts Coordinators and anyone interested in the arts in acute hospitals.
6th June (Salisbury). I’m speaking at it, along with Peter Ursem, Manager, Art Care, Salisbury District Hospital and Megan Attwood, Evaluation and Research Lead, Willis Newson.
http://www.ahsw.org.uk/membersmeetings.cfm?page_id=3220&CFID=10261307&CFTOKEN=71143546
Apr 26
2011
Posted by: Josie
Nice article in today’s Times about Quentin Blake’s art for hospitals (behind the pay wall, but I guess there’s still time to go out and buy one):
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/article2997900.ece
I am a little disappointed by the final sentence, which says that art for hospitals is usually bought ready-made. As we know, that is not the case, and I have commented to say so. Perhaps you would like to as well, if you are a Times subscriber.
Apr 20
2011
Posted by: Josie
I’ve just remembered I made a list last year of arts and health training/courses/modules offered by universities and arts organisations. It is most likely not comprehensive, but I think I’ve got most of the main ones. Hope it may be some use to somebody (it’s on the Resources page). Sorry about the blinding colour coding!
Josie
