EHWB Study Day 27 February 2012

1. EHWB Study Day27 February 2012 Creativity and Emotional Wellbeing

2. How can creativity contribute to a positive sense of well-being? The arts: • have an inherent value for their own sake • are a creative resource for communication, learning and reflection (not mutually exclusive!) • enabling self-expression • instilling a sense of achievement, nurturing self-esteem and building confidence • empowering individuals, groups and communities with a voice • offering ways to discover creative solutions / coping strategies to address challenges people face • providing opportunities for reflection • encouraging social interaction

3. "All the young carers seemed to benefit hugely from taking part and being encouraged to have the freedom to try out new things and learn new performing arts skills.  They also developed their social skills in a safe environment.” Dave Willis, Somerset Young Carers “The project showed me how to open my mind and dig deep to create better writing."  Participant Ballistic Lips was a two-day programme of explosive wordy workshops for young people and adults aged 14 to 19 at Bridgwater Arts Centre on 1st and 2nd August 2011. Over the two days, participants worked with hip hop artists and professional performance poets Maxwell Golden and Liv Torc to explore their own unique voice. Using hip-hop, performance poetry and spoken word techniques, they created rhymes, words and rhythms for the page and for the stage. At the end of the two days, participants performed solo and group pieces to each other and an invited audience. Ballistic Lips complements Take Art's broader aspirations to develop urban arts in rural environments as a mechanism for addressing issues of mental health and emotional well-being among young people.  The project was supported by SPAEDA's 'Arts Adventures' programme which aims to give children and young people who wouldn't usually have the opportunity, the chance to explore the arts, while encouraging them to discover their own creativity.

4. New programme of workshops now available: A one-day, explosive wordy workshop for young people aged 14+ in Somerset. Participants will have the opportunity to work alongside a spoken word performer to explore their own unique voice and create rhymes, words and rhythms for the page and for the stage. Ballistic Lips aims to • engage with marginalised and disadvantaged young people • promote the voice/s of young people and empower them to take ownership of their world • build self-esteem and confidence • increase communication and literacy skills • have a positive impact on mental health and emotional wellbeing • encourage group interaction, co-operation and peer support more info:mark@takeart.org

5. The SPACE Healthy Relationships TiE project In Spring 2011, 21 primary schools participated in an award-winning TiE project that used theatre as a way of exploring healthy relationships, raise self-esteem and celebrate differences. Students from The SPACE formed seven theatre companies to devise and rehearse seven different performances. The project represents a unique partnership between the SPACE, Healthy Schools Somerset and Take Art.  It follows on from the success of 2010’s pilot project which toured to 12 primary schools. The project, nominated for the Somerset Education Business Awards 2011, was the winner of the post-16 category.   The project is touring again in March 2012.

6. Spring ForwardA youth dance platform for children and young people across Somerset Spring Forward 2012 • 2012 will be the 8th year this dance platform has taken place • Mon 26 & Tues 27 March: The Tacchi Morris Arts Centre, Taunton • Thurs 17 May: The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil • Around 700 young people will be performing • 36 school and youth groups applied to take part this year Urban dance is a powerful way of connecting young people with both their bodies and their communities, through the music and moves they love.

7. Dance in Schools Take Art Dance coordinates and develops dance activity for children and young people across the county, working with schools and teachers to offer quality dance training and experience. more info:katey@takeart.org

8. Play It Again Theatre Company educates through theatre performances and workshops in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.   We have a passionate belief that educational theatre empowers communities, enables them to explore possibilities safely and encourages them to make informed decisions which will affect positive actions in their lives.  a cyberbullying show with follow-up workshops

9. VIRAL an online safety/sexting show with workshops for those aged 12+ www.playitagain more info:mail@playitagain.org.uk

10. …are an international touring troupe of clowns based in Exeter whose high energy, spectacular and hilarious shows have wowed audiences in over 20 countries. Using their extensive training in clowning, acrobatics and mime, as well as circus history, they have engaged with British and international audiences since 2007. “Talented and exciting – a tour de force of the senses. Their exuberant energy and zany humour were met with sheer delight.” Exmouth Community College Clowns at Waris a totally brand new workshop concept that integrates workshop participants into a performance. It involves a full day’s workshop, with a maximum of 40 students (space dependent), giving an introduction to the clown, undergoing direction from us and actively allowing participants to gain first-hand experience of the devising process behind creating a show. This culminates in a 45 minute performance where students get an opportunity to showcase their achievements from the workshop whilst performing directly alongside a professional theatre company. Le Navet Bete www.lenavetbete.com more info: matt@lenavetbete.comnick@lenavetbete.com

11. Reach The award winning project ‘Reach’ was a collaboration between the NHS and teams in Bristol, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. Solving problems and tackling innermost feelings is often best done through art. In the Somerset project, Take Art enabled young people to work with two artists to explore some of the issues surrounding self image and obesity. Digital artist Richard Tomlinson and drama therapist Emma Thompson worked with young people aged between 13 and 15 from Bridgwater and Langport. Through discussion and debate they were able to create a bank of images, short films and animations, increasing self confidence and self esteem as well as gaining new skills.

12. Culture and Wellbeingusing the arts to improve the nation’s healthhttp://www.cultureandwellbeing.org.uk/ Culture and Wellbeing is designed to act as a signpost to help you to find individuals and organisations which are using the arts to influence health, the research and guidelines which support this work and other sources of information about all aspects of arts, creativity and wellbeing.

13. The impact of the arts on wellbeing There is now an overwhelming body of evidence demonstrating that participation in the arts and access to a range of arts opportunities can dramatically improve health outcomes and increase wellbeing. By supplementing medicine and care, the arts can improve the health of people who experience mental or physical health problems. Engaging in the arts can promote prevention of disease and build wellbeing.

14. “Access and participation in the arts are an essential part of our everyday wellbeing and quality of life.“ Secretary of State for Health 2008 “The arts are and should be firmly recognised as being integral to health, healthcare provision and healthcare environments.” DoH 2007 And yet…

15. …there’s no mention of cultural activity in proposed measures of wellbeing A Government-sponsored consultation seeking to identify the factors that influence national wellbeing makes no explicit mention of the arts or creativity, suggesting that cultural activity could be excluded from future statistical measures of quality of life. The consultation aims to clarify those factors that have a major impact on individual wellbeing. Six categories are proposed as forming a major part of the framework for measuring national wellbeing: our relationships; health; what we do; where we live; personal finance; education and skills. Yet in none of these categories is there specific recognition of the contribution that involvement in the arts or creative activity can make to individual wellbeing. The consultation proposals, prepared by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), reflect the outcome of a national debate on the nature of wellbeing which took place between November 2010 and April 2011 and was hosted by the ONS at the request of Government. In total, ONS held 175 events involving over 7,000 people, and the debate generated 34,000 responses to questions about “What matters to you?” These responses have formed the basis of the proposals for future measures of the nation’s wellbeing. submitted by ArtsProfessional January 6, 2012

16. Take Art is a pioneering arts charity, serving the towns, villages and rural communities of Somerset. We do this by providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience, participate and work within the arts. www.takeart.org Spaeda creates opportunities for the children and young people of Somerset to experience high quality arts activities. www.spaeda.org.uk In Schools, Colleges, Youth Clubs and with Arts organisations and social service providers across the country, Actiontrack have built a reputation for exciting, entertaining and innovative work in the participatory arts www.actiontrack.org.uk http://danceandtheatresomerset.net a community driven website and an interactive resource which belongs to the dance and theatre community of Somerset. www.somersetarts.com online arts directory