What we do
Current Project Work
Research | Enterprise | Networking | Education
Research
In 2004 AfH was awarded a £385k Invest to Save Project (ISP) grant from HM Treasury to develop the evidence base around the impact of the arts on public health across the north-west region. This work will be disseminated in September 2007. Through this project, a number of business opportunities have been developed which will enhance the national reputation and esteem of the university and includes:
Click here for more information on the projects.
Enterprise
Developing a partnership agreement between the Department of Health, Arts Council England and Manchester Metropolitan University to develop a regional strategic framework for the arts and health agenda, followed by a period of developmental/research work has been agreed. This special relationship has been highlighted in the joint Department of Health and Arts Council England, National Prospectus on Arts and Health. Click here for details
Arts consultancy and project management of the £338million St Helens Acute Hospitals NHS Trust new build programme; has been awarded to MMU. We are currently exploring the Knowledge Transfer Partnership potential in this work.
Development and support of the Manchester Culture and Health Strategy. This work is being developed in partnership with the community arts and health organisation, LIME, the Manchester Joint Health Unit and Local Authority. MMU has hosted a high level business visioning day facilitated by the designer and entrepreneur Wayne Hemmingway.
We edit the international web portal on culture and health for EUCLID, which includes connections to UK and International research and projects. Click Here for details
Networking
Arts for Health have and continue to facilitate a range of networking events across the North West region and are currently supporting UCLAN, The University of Cumbria, Liverpool Culture Company and The TRAMHA network in the development of networking and advocacy.
For more information on TRAHMA Click here
For more information on UCLAN Click here
For more information on Liverpool Culture Company
Click here
For more information on The University of Cumbria
Click here
We currently support the management of the Greater Manchester Arts and Health Network and recently chaired the LOWRY Conference on arts and health. Click Here for Details . For a PDF of the report on the GMAHN Conference at the Lowry click here.
We are developing a joint arts and health database/website with the North West Public Health Observatory. Click here for details
We are working in partnership with the BBC, Alder Hey Hospital, FACT, Mersycare, Salford PCT, St Helens Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, BluSCI, LIME and the sub-regional Public Health Networks.
Education
We are currently developing a continuing professional development programme for health and arts professionals to be rolled out in 2008 and are looking to further develop Under/Post graduate modules.
We currently support one Phd student Anne Kellock..... and are looking to support a number of studentships.
Past Project Work
The European Music and Health Exchange Project
The first European arts and health collaboration, this project involves musicians from England, France and Ireland working together at the bedside of patients in each of the three countries. The project which was brought about by a collaboration between Arts for Health, the Royal Northern College of Music, Musique et Sante (Paris) and Waterford Healing Arts (Ireland) has led to the development of a Music for Health European Network.
CHARTS
The Culture, Health and the Arts World Symposium (CHARTS) was an unprecedented event, bringing together at Manchester over five hundred individuals and organisations from twenty-six countries to explore creative approaches to some of the world's health and social problems. From this crucible of therapists, painters, managers, poets, architects, doctors, administrators, funders, actors, politicians, dancers, designers and community workers came a unique opportunity to understand more deeply the profound links between art and well-being, and the interdependence of culture and health which transcends national differences and borders. During the four days of the symposium, we considered anew how fundamental the arts and culture are to healing and caring, and reaffirmed that health is a balance of body, mind and spirit - not just the absence of disease. The event is recorded and assessed in 'A Powerful Force for Good' (see publications). and of Dr Patch Adams director of the Gesundheit Institute West Virginia, USA.
