It is an exciting time to be involved in arts and health work in the UK. Following recent reports from the Arts Council England and the Department of Health, the mandate for arts and health work has never been stronger. Specifically in the mental health arena, there is much enthusiasm for using the arts to promote recovery and social inclusion, with recent research supporting these approaches. However, it is argued that there are many complications for those wishing to contribute to the arts and mental health agenda. This conference will challenge some of the assumptions being made about using the arts for mental health purposes and identify some of the key issues, which will help participants to feel more equipped to engage with the arts and mental health agenda and the associated issues surrounding it

Aims of the conference

The conference will help equip participants to work more effectively in the arts and mental health and aims to provide the following:

  • increased understanding of the research evidence base
  • a critical appreciation of the risk agenda
  • an examination of the relevance of the arts to promote recovery and social inclusion
  • an appraisal of issues such as funding and partnership working
  • an in-depth look at the mental health of arts and artists.

Speakers at the event

  • Chair: Theo Stickley
  • Mike White Director, Centre for Arts and Humanities in Health and Medicine, Durham University
  • Theo Stickley Associate Professor of Mental Health, University of Nottingham Recovery and inclusion, the wrong goals for community arts projects
  • Helen Spandler Research Fellow, Department of Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire Hester Parr Reader, University of Dundee
  • Mike White Director, Centre for Arts and Humanities in Health and Medicine, Durham University
  • Dom Jinks Development Officer, Arts Council England
  • Langley Brown Chair of Bridgehead Arts
  • Penny Coulson Arts Coordinator for Nottinghamshire Healthcare
  • Kate Duncan City Arts
  • Lydia Towsey Creative Arts Coordinator, Leicestershire Partnership trust
  • Lost Artists Club

Who should attend

  • Mental health workers and managers
  • Mental health policy makers
  • Mental health promotion specialists
  • Social workers
  • Occupational therapists
  • Psychoanalysts and psychotherapists
  • Service users
  • Community arts workers and manager
  • Artists, students and art therapists
  • Educational workers and managers
  • Education programme managers

Workshops

none

Pricing

£ 125.00 + VAT for Public sector/edu/charity/NHS/ local gov/vol orgs
£ 150.00 + VAT for Central Gov/Private Orgs
£ 95.00 + VAT for Student/unwaged/small vol orgs