The first national conference of the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance is being staged in Newcastle this month.
In recent years there has been mounting evidence and understanding of the benefit arts and creativity can have on our health.
This was highlighted no more so than in the pivotal report Creative Health. It followed a two-year inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing.
It contains strong evidence that creative and cultural activities can help tackle key public health challenges such as ageing, long-term conditions and mental health.
This March, Great North Museum will host a national audience from the arts, health and culture sectors, meeting to consider how recommendations in the report can be put in place.
Equal Arts co-director Alice Thwaite said: "We've been involved representing the North East on the Alliance and working with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arts Health and Wellbeing to raise the profile of the work. As Lord Howarth writes in the report “the essential need we identify is culture change: change in conventional thinking leading to change in conventional practice.”
"We are always keen to promote collaborative working and highlighting good practice in the field. There is a lot going on in the region and the conference will put the spotlight on some wonderful projects, including the Gateshead Care Home Choir, which the charity developed and continues to support."
"We are really thrilled the Gateshead Care Home Choir will be performing. Equal Arts have been leaders in the field of culture, health and wellbeing for many years, and it's fitting they will be performing in Tyne & Wear Museums, who have built health and wellbeing into the heart of their own work. The performance speaks to the ways in which innovative, creative work in heritage can transform our communities, and the way we feel about ourselves, and about others." Victoria Hume, Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance director
Creative Health and Wellbeing: Please find below just a few of the resources available