Arts for Health

Participation in the arts can contribute to our health and well-being in a number of ways, and many health and care professionals now recognise this and are keen to refer patients to suitable art projects.

Inspire has developed a straightforward scheme - a simple referral form, that contains information about a given Inspire Arts for Health project. This is filled in by a person providing health or care services and their client who may benefit from an Inspire led project.  Individuals can also refer themselves if they wish.

Each Arts for Health project consists of a series of weekly sessions of 1-2 hours, as a rule, and is led by a professional artist-facilitator, who tailors the sessions to the needs and ambitions of the participants. 

The artist has to be experienced, sensitive and flexible, as well as creative and inspiring!  Another valuable aspect is social interaction - as well as working with each other, the groups find ways to interact with others in the community.

Recent Inspire projects include:

'Where am I?' a series of workshops designed specifically for residents of the Oxmoor estate in Huntingdon. Participants took part in Digital Photography and Creative Writing to explore themes of who we are, where we find ourselves and and how we relate to the community around us. It is thanks to Huntingdonshire District Council that this project took place.

‘Open Eyes' in Bassingbourn, a collaboration with South Cambs District Council and the Mental Health Partnership Trust gave people with mental health needs an opportunity to take part in a visual art workshop.

Creative Clay sessions at the Buchan Street Healthy Living Centre, in Cambridge, were very popular. This project was supported by Cambridge City Council.

Inspire is planning more Arts for Health work in Ramsey in the near future.

You can find out more about our future projects from Lorraine  Freya or at Inspire on 01223 441106, or freya@inspire.org.uk