We agree with the National Centre for Creative Health that creative health is fundamental to a healthy and prosperous society, and its benefits should be available and accessible to all.
Taking part in creative activity with others supports us to live well for longer, it can give us self-confidence, resilience, and social and civic skills that can serve us throughout life, and the physical and wellbeing benefits to help us live fully.
- Long-term creative health programme Tea, Cake & Art is demonstrating physical and emotional wellbeing benefits, as well as creative joy, at the heart of our programme since 2019. This programme runs year-round for older people who are isolated in any way: by location, physical or mental barriers, grief or socio-economic circumstances, and for their carers.
- Our recent shorter-form series of workshops in the fabric Workroom of our Social Fabric exhibition offers social and haptic life skills to young people working with partners WILD Young Parents, Trelya and Newlyn School. We are exploring ways to create a legacy resource offering creative vocational skills and opportunities based on what we are learning with these groups of young people.
- Our recognition of the underrepresentation of men in creative health offers has led us to a pilot project with homelessness charity St Petrocs, and a substantial proposed research exercise into the barriers for participation.
- We continue to offer blended digital functionality through our Engine Room, enabling us to simultaneously reach people in the space and those in remote locations otherwise isolated or unable to travel.
- Together with University of Exeter and regional partners Arts Centre Penryn, we are researching creative health programme evaluation methods that are non-clinical, accessible and participant-friendly.
