A series of case studies exploring the role and effectiveness of the creative arts in supporting positive outcomes for people being supported by social services.
This series also includes Creative Bites (Bite-sized chunks of creativity). We invited 40 people to share their thoughts and ideas to inspire creativity and imagination in the social services.
Although film and video production has always been at the heart of Plantation Productions work, it has evolved to include participatory arts, such as drama and performance. Acting as a community anchor, the organisation offers an arts and wellbeing programme of activities that promotes social inclusion and improves the confidence and creativity of people in the local community in Govan.
We know that creativity can change lives for the better and our aim in conducting the survey was to understand how the creative arts are being used, and the impact this type of work can have for people supported by services and for staff. As such, the purpose of the work was to capture some of the experiential knowledge held by professionals working in this area, to share this knowledge more widely across the sector and to provide inspiration to others.
In early 2013 Consilium research (commissioned by Skills for Care and the Baring Foundation) conducted a literature review of available evidence to explore the role of the arts in delivering social care outcomes. Jim Thomas gives us an overview of the research findings.
The arts continue to gain recognition as a vital part of society. In particular, there is increasing acknowledgment that the arts can offer practical and innovative ways to impact on the positive factors that nurture health and wellbeing (Seligman, 2011).
Everyone deserves music is the title of a conference I’ll be chairing end of April (Community music conference, Gateshead, 29 April). It’s also a good slogan. Music is the way we express our identity and how we relate to the world, especially where the written or spoken word is inadequate or unavailable. As human beings we need music just as we need food, shelter and warmth.
The Village Storytelling Centre was founded in 2000 has a strong history of supporting disadvantaged groups of people to access and benefit from involvement in the arts, in particular storytelling. One such group is young carers. These young people are seen as doubly disadvantaged from accessing arts (and other) activities as they not only have their caring responsibilities, but also often come from a fixed income family.
North Ayrshire Council Addiction Services (NACAS) Creative Arts Project has been running for a number of years. Art therapy is a method of addiction treatment that uses the creative process to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of recovering individuals.
