I have been lucky enough to attend two events recently at the stunning new Bath Spa University Locksbrook Campus, that sits on the banks of The River Avon in Bath. It is a beautifully restored industrial building originally designed by Sir Nicholas Grimshaw in 1976. At an evening delivered in collaboration between the Bath group of the RoyaI Society of Arts and What Next? Bath Area Chapter, I was part of a group shown round the building by a third-year graphic design student who obviously loved being a part of this vibrant, collaborative, creative space. The building is open to the public, with a café at the front, so do take a peak if you have the time.

The second event was convened by Bath MP Wera Hobhouse, an artist herself previous to her career in politics, with the aim of bringing educational and arts organisations together to hear from Arts Council England about their new 10-year strategy, Let's Create.

In simple terms, the strategy has three outcomes:

These outcomes are underpinned by some rather woolly 'investment principles' which I am sure will take some time to clarify and embed. What excites me about this shift from 'great art' and 'excellence' to places, communities and change, is that we as an organisation understand the power of this approach in developing and empowering communities through art. It is, I think, a real tribute to organisations like ourselves all over the country who have been working with communities for many years and developing talent from a diverse range of backgrounds, that the Arts Council are now treading this path. It is notable as well that they have re-branded artists as 'creative practitioners' and 'art' as 'culture' to be more inclusive.

We are also having a bit of a re-launch ourselves with details of our new co|Create programme for 2020 included in this newsletter. Following thorough consultation with artists, the programme now has four strands: Creative Inspiration, Safe Practice, Creative Resilience and Enterprise Works. The aim of the programme is to support and develop artists working in social practice ensuring they can fulfill effective and sustainable careers.

Some of the highlights include the return of our highly successful business course, Enterprise Works, aimed at socially engaged artists as social entrepreneurs and our Creative Resilience course focusing on how artists can be resilient in their lives and their creative practice.

We also have some truly inspiring artists who will be sharing their own practice and ideas including Ali Brown and Megan Clark-Bagnall from M2AIR, artist and academic Sophie Hope, and the brilliant international artist Emma Smith. Additionally, we are delivering two complementary social media sessions, one looking at how artists can use social media to enhance their profile and career, and the other a masterclass in creating short films to be used on a variety of social media channels.

Finally, I would very much like to welcome Harriet Colbourn, who has joined us as a new trustee, Jess Domin who is volunteering with us for three months as part of her MA in Arts Psychotherapy and Jaq Hough who has joined Creativity Works as our Fresh Art worker and will be working alongside our Creative Wellbeing Manager, Philippa Forsey, in delivering our flagship project, Fresh Art@.

Olly

Director, Creativity Works

Members from two of our peer-led groups; Writing Space and Keynsham Snap & Stroll, shared their experiences and the benefits of being part of these groups last month at the Well Wessex Event. Well Wessex is a partnership between Creativity Works, Heads Up, the Balsam Centre and Chard Watch, with the aim of working together to improve mental health support and provision across Somerset. 

Greg, a key member from our Writing Space group, ran a short creative writing session which was linked to the history of the area and Adrian, Heather and Martin from Keynsham Snap & Stroll, shared how photography has helped them. They encouraged the participants of the day to look at photography in a different way and how the images can represent how we are feeling.

"Its all about empowerment. Being part of a peer-led group makes you feel empowered. Hope and empowerment I think are two of the most important things in recovery from any mental health condition and this group gives me both." Peer group member.

The event coincided with an announcement by the Somerset Commissioning Group that it had awarded a £1m a year contract to help integrate adult mental health and emotional wellbeing services and to help create a better culture of collaboration between the NHS and the small charities that do so much excellent work within their local communities.

Speakers included: Lucy Nelson who spear headed the Well Wessex project, Sue Place - CEO of the Balsam Centre, Vanessa Gordon - Beulah Light, Lucy Jones - Medical Herbalist, Karen Prosser -  Director of Commercial Development, Strategy and Partnerships - Somerset Partnership NHS and  Annie Maw, Lord Lieutenant of Somerset.  For more information about Well Wessex and our role within the project, please contact Philippa Forsey via email: philippa@creativityworks.org.uk