Devon Arts and Mental Health

An Introduction!

2011-06-14T01:11:00.000-07:00

In April, with the help of the University of Exeter, Exeter Healthcare Arts and Devon Partnership NHS Trust, 10n Devon Arts and Health organisations put together an exhibition to coincide with the University's 'Cradle To Grave' conference, exploring the links between the arts and medicine. Each organisation had 200 words to say who they and what they do, and supply some images. the results are a good way of showing just some of what goes on... click on each image to see it larger.

Doom and Bloom Sold Out!

2010-09-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Ninth Exeter Arts and Therpaies Conference is full to bursting!
But if you're interested in being part of Devon Arts and Emotional health network, contact us anyway and we'll let you know how things develop... info@insiderart.org.uk

9th Exeter Arts & Therapies Conference

Friday September 17^th 2010. 10.00am -4.30pm. The Exeter Guildhall, Devon.

Doom & Bloom

In challenging times people need both art and community more not less.

Promoting successful Arts & Mental Health practice work in Devon.

When EATc began in 2001 there were few projects in Devon specifically working with the arts and mental health. This event celebrates an explosion in their diversity, range and number since then. We are offering many groups ‘shop windows’ into that they do and with many of the people doing this. The pace will be fast and furious! We will be showing educational, community, environmental and therapeutic approaches to creativity in living.

It is a chance to gather, give and receive inspiration and to feel our strength in numbers. We hope it will mark the beginning of an Arts & Emotional Health network for Devon. Because of its Devon focus we will only process Devon applications until the end of July . Application forms: www.insiderart.org.uk, info@insiderart.org.uk, or 01392 677258

The event is very affordable (£20, or £12 concessions) thanks to the generous help of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, The Self Heal Association and Insider Art, supported by Arts & Health South West. The event is doubling as a membership meeting for AHSW.

We are honoured to hold this event in Exeter’s historic Guildhall, a building central in Devon life for 800 years. Due to the limitations of this special venue, places are strictly limited.

Presentations include: Arts on Prescription: arts with depression or anxiety. Blazing Tales: mixed heritage families. Bridge Collective: democratic mental health support. Centre for Contemporary Art & the Natural World: ecological and cultural resources for mental health projects. Magic Carpet: widening arts participation by disabled and disadvantaged groups. Insider Art: participation and healing environments REACH: Arts Council England initiative in arts and public health. Professor Norma Daykin: Evidence base. Double Elephant Print Workshop: print on prescription. Alex Coulter: Arts & Health South West. Exeter Arts Therapies Service: Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Exeter Healthcare Arts hospital arts.

The day will be Chaired by Malcolm Learmonth, Arts & Environment Development Lead, Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Further speakers are being added: see conference page on the Insider Art website for details along with papers, feedback and reports from previous conferences.

EATc is organised by Insider Art: providing arts & mental health projects, trainings & events.

The Edge Heathercombe Sculpture Trail

2010-09-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

This wonderful and varied show is open! Find our more here: http://www.heathercombe.com/Edge%20Home.htm

Here is the Insider Art Contribution, 'The Nest of Lost Hopes'. To find out more: http://www.insiderart.org.uk/default.aspx?contentid=9&eventid=92

Exeter Healthcare Arts Photography project

2010-07-20T00:58:00.000-07:00

Exeter Conference for September

2010-07-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

9th Exeter Arts and Therapies Conference

Friday September 17th 2010. 10.00am -4.30pm. The Exeter Guildhall, Devon.

In challenging times people need both art and community more not less.
Promoting successful Arts and Mental Health practice work in Devon.

This event celebrates the growth in the diversity, range and number of arts and mental health projects in Devon. We are offering many groups ‘shop windows’ into that they do and with many of the people doing this. The pace will be fast and furious! We will be showing educational, community, environmental and therapeutic approaches to creativity in living.

It is a chance to gather, give and receive inspiration and to feel our strength in numbers. We hope it will mark the beginning of an Arts and Emotional Health network for Devon. Because of its Devon focus we will only process Devon applications until the end of July . Application forms click here, e mail info@insiderart.org or ring 01392 677258

The event is very affordable (£20, or £12 concessions) thanks to the generous help of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, The Self Heal Association and Insider Art, supported by Arts and Health South West. The event is doubling as a membership meeting for AHSW.

We are honoured to hold this event in Exeter’s historic Guildhall, a building central in Devon life for 800 years. Due to the limitations of this special venue, places are strictly limited.

Presentations include: Arts on Prescription: arts with depression or anxiety. Blazing Tales: mixed heritage families. Bridge Collective: democratic mental health support. Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World: ecological and cultural resources for mental health projects. Magic Carpet: widening arts participation by disabled and disadvantaged groups. Insider Art: participation and healing environments REACH: Arts Council England initiative in arts and public health. Professor Norma Daykin: Evidence base. Double Elephant Print Workshop: print on prescription. Magic Carpet: Community Arts. Alex Coulter: Arts and Health South West. Exeter Arts Therapies Service: Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Exeter Healthcare Arts hospital arts.

The day will be Chaired by Malcolm Learmonth, Arts and Environment Development Lead, Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Further speakers are being added: see conference page on the Insider Art website for details along with papers, feedback and reports from previous conferences.

EATc is organised by Insider Art: providing arts and mental health projects, trainings and events.

Insider Art and Devon Partnership NHS Trust projects near completion.

2010-05-05T05:21:00.000-07:00

Artwork above on the right printmaking from the Haldon Unit, Insider Art, Double Elephant Print Workshop and participants, on the left art work from the Compass House crèche, where everybody really did seem to get well involved...

Insider Art and Devon Partnership NHS trust, are close to completing several big health environment projects. Working at the new centre for Well-being and Access mental health services in Exeter: Compass House at the Haldon Unit at Wonford. Karen Huckvale has worked with other artists, like Double Elephant Print Workshop and felt artist Hermione Skrine, and with as many DPT staff and people using DPT services as possible to make high-quality, high inclusion artworks. More details will appear on the Insider Art website soon

Wonford House Artists Residencies

2010-05-05T04:57:00.000-07:00

'Sensation of Blue': Printmaker Simon Ripley is one of the artists who will be working at Wonford House.Click here for more of Simon's work.

After some stiff competition and difficult decisions the four artist residencies that are available at Wonford House Hospital have been awarded. This Magic Carpet/ Devon Partnership NHS Trust project will bring some creative input for people on the ward, and make a permanent contribution to improving the environment. Congratulations to the appointed artists, for more details follow this link to the magic carpet website. http://www.magiccarpet-arts.org.uk/TotalArts%20AiR.htm

Artist Residencies in Exeter! Apply quickly!

2010-04-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

For some exciting possibilities for artist's residencies in a mental health setting and a real chance to enhance a healing environment, follow this link! Quickly though: closing date is next Wednesday.

Part of Magic Carpets Total Arts programme...

Innovations in Dementia: new films

2010-04-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Videos by people with dementia

About these films

These films have been made by people who are living with dementia.
These films are about people who are living with dementia.

But these films are not just about dementia.

They are about people living their lives positively, with vitality and creativity.
They are about people who are still learning, and still growing.
They show that dementia is life-changing, but not life-ending.

Follow this link to see these films on the Innovations in Dementia site.

For another South West Artist, who spoke and showed her extremely moving work at last years Exeter Arts and Therapies Conference, have a look at Karen Brett

Wild Art Week!

2010-03-23T04:51:00.000-07:00

St Petrocs, the Exeter-based charity which aims to support and encourage people who are homeless, or inadequately housed, to improve their circumstances and take more control of their lives is running art workshops all this week. They've put together a great team, and its a real innovation!

Petroc's write that:

'Each afternoon during the week of March 22nd - 26th, we will be putting on Wild Art Week which will provide a variety of types of art for people to sample. Wild Art Week will be open to our clients as well as people on referral from other agencies in the city. Art organisations such as Spacex, Exeter Phoenix, Double Elephant, RAMM and Exeter College are already signed up to take part and we hope that a second Wild Art Week will take place later in the year.'

Find out more at:http://www.stpetrocks.org.uk/index.php/site/news/

Arts Council Consultation

2010-03-05T03:39:00.000-08:00

Arts Council England are consulting on their strategy for the next ten years. It's 'identify the key long-term goals that drive our decision-making, our investment priorities and our relationships with artists and audiences'. Can I urge all people concerned about art funding issues to have a look and respond? the documents can be found here: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/consultation/

While people will make up their own minds, its worth noticing that the word 'health' does not occur in this document once....

Its worth comparing that with the Welsh Arts Council's strategy 'Arts In Health and Well-being' at http://www.artswales.org/publication.asp?id=727

You may feel you're on the wrong side of the Bristol Channel, but we should be letting ACE know there's more to the arts than elitism!

Beyond The Storms

2010-02-19T05:33:00.000-08:00

This amazing book of recovery stories, which includes a lot of art work and creative writing is now available as a free download from the Devon Partnership NHS Trust website. Get it from Here

Going live

2010-02-19T05:14:00.000-08:00

This image is from a partnership project between Insider Art and Devon Partnership Trust to enhance the healing environment at the Haldon Unit, Wonford.

After a period of experimentation and conversation we're inviting other people and groups to this party. We hope this can be a place where we can develop connections, inspiration and mutual support. Let us have your links and news!

Magic Carpet 2010

2010-02-04T07:53:00.000-08:00

Lots of new creative projects in 2010 for Magic Carpet, our Arts Council funded totalArts project will support a community open studio space for people with mental health issues at Exeter Phoenix, four 10 day artist in residences at Wonford House hospital (much more soon!) and supporting the exhibitioning on the wards on the Cedars unit.

We are also just about to start a three year Big Lottery funded project we've called Moving On, there will be weekly groups, special project groups and groups that support and prepare people to move into community activities. More about these projects and all our groups at www.magiccarpet-arts.org.uk

Devon Partnership Trust

2010-01-28T14:01:00.000-08:00

We're delighted to have succeeded in getting a big grant for the Kings Fund Enhancing the Healing Environment programme to improve our Older People's Mental Health facilities in Exeter. This will make a real difference. For more about the EHE programme lclick here

This is the second time we've been able to take part. Here's one of the artworks we commissioned last time, for the Creative Therapies Team base at The Briars in Exeter. For more of Tati Dennehy's work, click here