London Arts and Health Forum (LAHF) has just announced it’s been awarded a tender by Arts Council England to set up a new national network for the arts and health in England. There was a National Network for the Arts from 2000-2006, but it had to close due to funding difficulties. LAHF will be working in partnership with the regional arts and health networking bodies to set up a new National Forum ‘to co-ordinate activity in the field of the arts and wellbeing’.
The National Forum will focus on:
- Sustainability and advocacy – these were key issues with the previous Network
- Mapping and co-ordination – it has become clear some some policy-makers are not aware of the range and depth of activity that already exists and there is duplication of effort
- Sharing information – primarily through a new website
- Supporting regional activity – including the possibility that the new network will set up regional arts and health organisations in the areas that currently lack them.
- Finally, there will be an international arts and health conference held in England in 2011 to mark the completion of the project.
I’m pleased about this development and hope it leads to a stronger sector with improved public visibility. Now, if only they can get the Department of Health and the Arts Council to agree on common cause and back it up with money and action (no more glossy brochures, please!)
