Arts for Health / Community Arts

What is Arts for Health?

"Arts for Health" (or "Arts in Health" as it is often known) is a growing movement based on the principle that integrating an art practice into the life of individuals, groups and communities can greatly enrich both mental and physical health, and support personal and community development.

Textiles

As a textiles artist I am particularly interested in how effective working with textiles can be in this field. Textiles have always held a significant place in our societies and cultures...we all have memories of textiles used in domestic and ceremonial circumstances within our childhood, and often have family heirlooms that demonstrate the significance of such textiles (quilts, samplers, wedding and christening dresses etc). This, I think, makes the prospect of working creatively in textiles less scary, more achievable somehow, than "art" for art’s sake - even if we then go on to use these textiles in an art context. I am really excited by the "hook" that using textiles creatively has into the very fabric of people’s lives and histories and the opportunity it offers them to spin their dreams; to weave better futures.

Pilot projects

Over the next few years I intend to run pilot "Arts for Health" textiles projects in West Cornwall, and research the positive affects these and other similar projects have on the health and well-being of both individuals and communities.

I would be interested to hear from any arts/health practitioners who would like to get involved in this research, or who are running, would like to run, or would like to be involved in similar projects.

I am also looking to find organisations/funding bodies/grants to support this work in order that it can be offered as a free "service" where it is most needed.