Medicine: Below the Surface - A poetic introspection.

MMU alumni Kate Jablonska has organised the 1st Exhibition of Manchester Metropolitan University Art & Design Students' Artworks in the Education Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary. Please report to Education North, to which the entrance is on Nelson Street until 9th August, after that the new road should be open.

The Arts and Health Research Archive

Arts for Health hold the UK's largest archives of valuable research material spanning the last 30 years. For some time, this resource has been un-catalogued and inaccessible to the public. We are pleased to announce that with the support of the Centre for Research in Library and Information Management (CRLIM) at MMU; Peter Senior MBE, Dr Langley Brown and MMU Special Collections, CRLIM Students are working to create a rich and accessible resource. We aim to have this material available to the public early 2011.

The Arts, Mental Health and Well-Being

In partnership with Breakthrough Arts; the Mental Health Foundation and the National Arts and Mental Health Strategy Group; Arts for Health are conducting a review of current arts and mental health practice across the UK. The aim of the partnership is to gather evidence of impact and need across the UK and lobby for increased investment and a raised profile of this work.

Health and Well-Being Alliance

The attached paper sets out the remit of, and potential priorities for, a Health and Well-Being Alliance serving the North-West, reflecting the imperative of enabling and supporting large scale, cross-sectoral transformational change. Specifically, it will also provide a resource to enable local public health delivery. With the new Department of Health White Paper and immanent developments in Public Health nationally, its important the arts and cultural sector engages with this debate. Arts for Health will feedback a response from the arts/health sector regionally. Please send any responses to c.parkinson@mmu.ac.uk by Friday 6th August and to feed into the process.

Arts in Health and Well-being Conference

4th March 2010, Wales Millennium Centre

This conference is aimed at professionals from both the health and arts sectors. Its main aim is to raise the debate among practitioners as to the value and effectiveness of the arts along with some practical solutions. Further Details.

British Association of Arts Therapists Conference: Attachment and the Arts

12th February 2010, London

The arts play a powerful role in the wellbeing of those who experience mental health problems. How can we understanding this? Further Details.

Clive Parkinson at the BAAT

Clive Parkinson had the pleasure of speaking at the British Association of Arts Therapists, Art Therapy Practice Research Network on Friday 2nd October, where alongside the Chief Executive of BAAT Val Huet and Chair, Neil Springham, he discussed the work of Arts for Health and the synergies between BAAT and the wider Arts and Health communities.

In sharing the process of the Invest to Save: Arts in Health research project he explored the potential for commonality between the wider arts and communityhealth field and creative therapies and potential for moving towards what Mike White describes as a '…unifying theory of arts in health.'

Areas of mutual interest discussed included what constitutes evidence ofhealth gain and well-being; bridge building; using new-media to share practiceand emerging national/regional/local developments.

RSPH Announces Winners of Arts and Health Award 2009

The Royal Society for Public Health, in conjunction with Canterbury Christ Church University, is delighted to announce that the two winners of this year's Arts and Health Award are Jenny Secker from Anglia Ruskin University and Andy Watson, from Geese Theatre Company. The Award recognises innovative work in Arts and Mental Health and marks significant contributions to research and practice in the field. Further details.

Putting myself in the picture

How can culture and the arts impact on health inequalities?

On October 22nd 09 we'll be hosting an event at MMU that explores the relationship between the arts, culture and health inequalities. This flickr page alows you to upload photographs to share on-line. Between now and the 22nd we have World Mental Health Day (10th October) and the idea here is to record images that question elements of our personal lives.

The image I've uploaded is of one of my neighbour's houses. It a home with no water, gas or electricity, but someone still lives there. He's lived there since his parents died in the 1970's. The windows are boarded up and kids vandalize it. This is my post-code, my neighbour. So, I'm not asking you to give away your address, but the first part of your post-code maybe and a caption about what and why, would be useful.
Clive Parkinson

www.flickr.com/people/artsforhealth/

International Arts and Health Conference

Clive Parkinson will be giving a key-note speech at the The Art of Good Health and Wellbeing, Port Macquarie 2009 International Arts and Health Conference.

The Art of Good Health and Wellbeing conference offers an unprecedented opportunity for direct access to best practice policy, programs and research in arts and health, presented by leading authorities in the world today.

Enterprising Students win Commission

2nd Year BA (Hons) Embroidery Students at MMU have been involved in an enterprising project as part of a collaborative venture with Arts for Health and Derbyshire Community Health Services. Further details.

Facebook

We now have a Facebook site that you'd be more than welcome to join. Just go to Facebook and search for ArtsforHealth or use this direct link.

Royal Society for Public Health announce
Arts and Health Award 2009

A decision has been made and the award will be presented during at the Annual General Meeting of the RSPH (Royal Society for Public Health), on 15th September 2009.

Alan Johnson

Following a meeting between Lord Howarth of Newport, Clive Parkinson and a small contingent of colleagues with the Secretary of State for Health, Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP in July 08; Mr Johnson went on to deliver a speech on arts and health.

Download a copy of Alan Johnson's Speech (PDF)