Healing Arts is a global campaign by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab in collaboration with the World Health Organization
Healing Arts Scotland Islands Day acted as a platform to amplify the voices of Scottish Island communities, with a particular focus on their experiences surrounding the arts in health and wellbeing. This included community-based events by NHS Orkney, An Lanntair, Lewis, and other organisations.
Additionally, the Arts Culture Health & Wellbeing Scotland, funded by Creative Scotland, hosted a day of online discussions and presentations focusing on the future of social prescribing, what the latest research revealed, and the role of health and culture in island communities. Attendees were encouraged to visit the online conference programme to find out more and book their place.
23 Aug 2024, 10.30AM - 11.30AM | Early Years Dance class for grown-ups and little ones (0-2 years), led by Kathryn Gordon. Focus on bonding through gentle movements. Refreshments from 11:00-11:30
23 Aug 2024, 11.30AM - 12.30PM | This Wellbeing Writing session, led by Genevieve White, provided creative writing prompts in a fun, informal, and low-pressure environment
23 Aug 2024, 12.30PM - 1.30PM | Mind Your Head lead a session on creating a personalized self-care box, which you could take home to encourage daily self-care
23 Aug 2024, 2.00PM - 3.15PM | This panel explored how Scottish island communities use local cultural assets to improve health, addressing unique challenges and promoting collaboration between cultural and health organisations to build thriving communities -
23 Aug 2024, 4.00PM - 5.00PM | RSPB Shetland did an introduction to Nature Journalling at Mareel. This activity combined art, writing, science, and mindfulness to enhance wellbeing.
23 Aug 2024, 6.30PM - 7.30PM | Adult Ballet session led by dancer Matthew, was suitable for all abilities. Experienced the physical and mental wellbeing benefits of ballet
The Future of Social Prescribing - We took a look at the future of Social Prescribing and the role of culture has to play with a panel of experts offering local, national and international perspectives.
Location: UHI Orkney (The College) - Lecture theatre
Opening remarks from Christopher Bailey- Art & Health Lead, WHO & Founding Co- Director, Jameel Arts & Health Lab
Nisha Sajnani - Founder of Arts and Health @ NYU And Chair, Creative Arts Therapies Consortium, NYU
Location: UHI Orkney (The College) - Conference room
What the Research Tells Us - We took a look at why culture plays such an important part in our health and wellbeing and discuss recent ground breaking national and international research.
Location: UHI Orkney (The College) - Lecture theatre
Music and Social Prescribing - An introduction to social prescribing and the opportunities it can offer to musicians working with community groups by the ISM Trust in partnership with the Singing for Health Network. Social Prescribing is a key feature of the NHS’ long-term plan, which aims to strengthen the link between the local community and social activities such as music, sport, and arts, recognising that people’s health is determined primarily by a range of factors which are outside the scope of prescribed medication.
This session looked at the history and context of Social Prescribing, found out how it works and where it has been successful in relation to music – with a particular focus on singing – and discovers the opportunities it can offer to musicians working with community groups.
Speakers:
Location: UHI Orkney (The College)- Lecture Theatre
The Dancing is an open session - Seated and standing options available. No experience needed.
Location: The HUB - The Balfour Hospital Foreland Rd, Kirkwall KW15 1NZ
Followed by a discussion moderated by Nisha Sajnani - The value of arts engagement in health.
Strangers in Time is a performance piece by WHO Arts and Health Lead Christopher Bailey on transgenerational trauma, what it is and how the arts can help manage it. Using neurology, personal experience, and stories from around the world, Bailey explored an often misunderstood area with messages of both science and hope. He has performed versions of the piece in Ireland, The Ukraine, Nigeria, the US and in the Middle East.
Location: Brodgar A – Room - The Balfour Hospital Foreland Rd, Kirkwall KW15 1NZ
Nurturing Healthy Island Communities through Culture - We explored how different island communities across Scotland are mobilising and embedding local community - based cultural assets to improve health and wellbeing
Location: UHI Orkney (The College) - Conference room
Chris Gray, Senior Lecturer, University of Aberdeen
This talk shared insights from a unique course on offer at the University of Aberdeen which explores practices and research from the fields of music, therapy, public health, and medicine in order to rigorously explore the relationship between music, health and wellbeing. Chris shared highlights from the following: the academic debate around music, health, and wellbeing; the musical practices available to medical and music practitioners, and to their potential uses in a breadth of health care settings. He went on to briefly share community music based project design work planned with the NHS Grampian Public Engagement team.
Location: Brodgar A – Room - The Balfour Hospital Foreland Rd, Kirkwall KW15 1NZ
None NHS to meet in the HUB 15.15 to be escorted to the room
Other information:
We flew kites to honour the mass kite flying event that took place on Al-Waha Beach in July 2011, when the children of Gaza reached a world record by flying 12,350 kites simultaneously in a symbol of resilience.
This family-friendly event open to all was a celebration of the strength and joy they found on that day, a reminder of their current suffering and a symbol of hope for their future.
We hosted this event during the Healing Arts Scotland celebration, which highlights the importance of arts activities to support our physical, mental and social health.
Making a kite:
If you don't have your own kite, you can find how to make one here:
See video
Safety
All children must be supervised by an adult. Please make sure to fly your kite safely:
https://www.kite.org/about-kites/kite-safety/
Location: The Peedie Sea (across from the Picky Centre) Bring your own kite!
All events are free to attend with no booking required. For more information contact Tiffany Stott 07561181385.
Photo Credit: Image Courtesy of Catherine Leask
Photo Credit: Image Courtesy of Catherine Leask
Photo Credit: Image Courtesy of Catherine Leask
Photo Credit: Image Courtesy of Catherine Leask
