Cabinet Secretary supports new North Wales Arts and Wellbeing collaboration

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething has pledged his support behind a new ‘Concordat’ of organisations who are pledging to use the arts as a way to increase people’s wellbeing.

The newly launched Concordat which includes Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Theatre Clwyd, many North Wales local authorities and a number of other organisations have pledged to support initiatives which use the arts as a way to enhance wellbeing.

The Concordat which is also supported by Arts Council Wales and the Welsh NHS Confederation aims for North Wales to be seen as a leading area in Wales in improving health and well-being through the arts.

Projects such as `Arts from the Armchair` and `Singing for Lung Health` are already successfully running collaboratively between the Heath Board and partners, both in culture venues and the wider community.

‘Arts from the Armchair’ is a partnership collaboration between Theatr Clwyd, the Mold Community Hospital team and BCUHB Flintshire Community Mental Health and Learning Disability Service’s Memory Clinic.

Created by BCUHB Arts in Health programme Coordinator, Andrea Davies, the group meets weekly at Theatr Clwyd, with professional theatre producer Hester Evans-Ford, and offers a range of arts-based workshop activities.

The group encourages those with early onset memory loss and their carers to overcome the challenges of communication by taking part in stimulating activities and encouraging social interaction in a supported, creative way.

Each week the participants engage with different areas of the theatre and stagecraft. Actors, musicians, costume makers, lighting and sound technicians, scene painters and other theatre professionals join the group to share new experiences and encourage involvement with the live performance process.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething said: “This Concordat will cover a wide range of activity, from engagement with arts activities for their own sake, which have health benefits, through to specialist services such as Art, Music and Drama Therapy.

“Engaging in creative activities plays an important in the prevention of poor health and in recovery following a period of physical or mental ill-health. It can also help ease social isolation during periods of acute or chronic ill health.

“The arts challenge and engage us emotionally and physically; sooth and comfort us and the contribution of the arts to improving health and well-being is increasingly recognised.”

Arts, Health and Wellbeing Strategic Programme Manager Liz Aylett said, “It’s fantastic that so many organisations have committed to joining this Concordat. We strongly believe in the power of the arts and arts therapies to help people who are unwell both during their stay in hospital and in recovery.

“Many of our projects have also seen the value in promoting good health and communications, supporting the general wellbeing of individuals – both their physical and mental wellbeing”.

During his keynote speech at the conference, Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive of Arts Council of Wales said: “I am delighted therefore to be contributing to this the conference of the Concordat for Arts, Health and Well-Being in north Wales here at Theatr Clwyd – the home of the Arts from the Armchair project. That project is another excellent example of the benefits of the arts to health and is a collaboration between Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board and Theatr Clwyd. It provides positive, creative experiences through workshops and performances within a theatre context for people with dementia.

“The goal of that project, like the Concordat as a whole, is to promote the benefits that the arts can bring to the population’s well-being and help patients maintain good mental and physical health thus reducing the demand on the NHS.

“Through this Concordat, as through all our work, our goal is to create a more equal, cultural and sustainable Wales and to put the arts at the heart of the life and wellbeing of the nation.”

Top: Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething signs his name to pledge his commitment to supporting Arts and Wellbeing in North Wales.