arts and well-being programme
Project eARTh
People in the High Peak experiencing mental distress will benefit from a lottery grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities Fund. The successful bid is a result of a strong partnership between High Peak Community Arts and the local mental health teams.
Project eARTh is an exciting new environmental arts and health project.
The grant will be used for weekly creative arts projects. In these workshops, participants can meet people, learn new skills, have fun, build confidence, and contribute towards their built and natural environments with works of art. There is no need for any previous arts experience, and we want to encourage people who don’t think of themselves as ‘arty’.
The first six weeks will be a gentle introduction with a wide range of arts activities, and then the first major project, a Summer Stroll, will involve a countryside stroll followed by workshops in writing and music to make a CD. From then on, ideas include a human sundial for Mouseley Bottom; living willow benches for allotments and gardens; outdoor cob ovens; and cast iron benches and an archway for Fairfield. In between, participants will enjoy other arts – paper making, felt making, and many others. As the project progresses, the participants will be able to plan other artworks for their communities.
Starting in April just after the Easter holidays there will be two groups, so people can attend the group most convenient for them. These will be at St. Nicholas Hall in Fairfield on Mondays 12.30pm – 3pm, and New Mills Youth Club on Thursdays 10.30am – 1pm. At each session, as well as an experienced community artist, there will be a mental health worker for additional support. This will provide a safe environment in which people can flourish.
Participants can be referred through their GP, Mental Health Team, other statutory or voluntary agencies or simply refer themselves. There will also be opportunities for participants’ families, neighbours and friends to get involved. If you are interested, please call Alison at High Peak Community Arts on 01663 744516, Sarah at the High Peak Community Mental Health Team on 01298 22321, or Paula /Roland at Glossop Mental Health Project on 01629 532686 .
Future Plans
Discussions are taking place with Derbyshire Arts Partnership, Derbyshire PCT and Derbyshire Social Services Adult Care about the way forward. We take an active part in the East Midlands Arts and Health Forum, and hope to do so in the new National Forum.
RECENT Project
Festival of Arts in Health
As part of the Learning Revolution Festival, funded by the Dept of Business, Innovation and Skills, we held free workshops in community settings aimed at disabled adults, people with long term medical conditions and those with mental health problems. The workshops included printing, drama games, creamics, creative writing and songwriting.
We also held workshops in singing, ceramics and felt making at Whitfield House, Glossop for its resident elders.
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