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.
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
Apr 20
2011
Posted by: Josie
Details of new courses in arts & health at the University of the West of England, Bristol:
http://www.lahf.org.uk/opportunities/new-arts-and-health-courses-uwe
Apr 20
2011
Posted by: Josie
Opportunity for a committed and enthusiastic Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant to work within the Music Services Department and closely with the Research Department team at Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy. Qualification in Music Therapy is not required.
http://www.lahf.org.uk/opportunities/monitoring-and-evaluation-assistant-nordoff-robbins-–-deadline-16-may
Apr 20
2011
Posted by: Josie
Prison arts charity, the Koestler Trust is seeking tenders for a one-year contract for press and PR work to promote a calendar of exhibitions and to help communicate key messages.
More details: http://www.lahf.org.uk/opportunities/pr-contract-koestler-trust-–-london-–-deadline-9-may
Apr 20
2011
Posted by: Josie
Marketing and Audience Development Assistant
Art at the Heart of the RUH – deadline 3 MaY
To assist the arts programme manager with marketing and audience development for the ‘Art at the Heart of the RUH programme at Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust.
More details: http://www.lahf.org.uk/opportunities/marketing-and-audience-development-assistant-art-heart-ruh-–-deadline-3-may
Mar 22
2011
Posted by: Josie
Just received an interesting (and very detailed) evaluation of some youth dance projects that have taken place under the Change4Life brand in the south west of England. It’s too large to upload here, but can be downloaded from the link below, along with some other information:
http://www.healthyweight4children.org.uk/resource/view.aspx?RID=92579
Mar 18
2011
Posted by: Josie
Feb 21
2011
Posted by: Josie
Not strictly arts and health-related, but if you’re fed up of trying to make your hospital (or wherever) more beautiful, at least you can improve your computer screen. Just click anywhere on the black screen and see what happens. V. relaxing. (Thanks Angela for the link).
http://www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.swf
Feb 17
2011
Posted by: Josie
Just noticed that the 2007 report by Secker et al, Mental Health, Social Inclusion and Arts: developing the evidence base by the Anglia Ruskin/UCLan Research Team is now available online. I am always referring to it (and mislaying my paper copy) so good to know it can be found at the click of a mouse.
http://www.socialinclusion.org.uk/publications/MHSIArts.pdf
Jan 31
2011
Posted by: Josie
Interesting sounding tender for a project that sounds very timely — closing date is Friday though.
Tender: production of toolkit & training package for Memory Bank, Yorkshire Film Archive
Memory Bank is an exciting new health project led by Yorkshire Film Archive (YFA), to develop therapeutic uses for archive film footage in dementia, residential care and domiciliary settings.
YFA require a specialist writer/content producer, with extensive experience of reminiscence and memory work with older people, to produce a series of user guides and a training package to accompany edited archive footage. The successful applicant will work in close collaboration with YFA’s technical staff, Advisory Panel members and volunteer health care professionals.
More details here: http://www.artsjobs.org.uk//index.php?id=25&ne_post_id=55280
