Arts + Culture for Health and Wellbeing Local Perspectives: Arts Organisation

1. Arts + Culture for Health and Wellbeing Local Perspectives: Arts Organisation Catherine Coulthard Chief Executive Prism Arts catherine@prismarts.org.uk

2. Carlisle: SETTING THE SCENE • Population: Approx 108,000 • Carlisle district covers 400 square miles – rural locality. • 69% of the population live in Carlisle City • 18.6% Carlisle residents are aged over 65 (16.5 nationally) • ‘Super ageing’ population

3. HEADLINE HEALTH DATA Health Data: Core Groups • The rate of children with severe learning disabilities known to schools is higher than England average (6.85 / 3.73). • Mental Health: Hate Crime increased by 27% in Cumbria, highest rise was in Carlisle • 14% (2600) of children live in low income families. • In 2016/17 there 12,841 people diagnosed with a stroke in NHS Cumbria CCG.

4. Setting the Scene: Partnership • Partnerships across sectors can deliver health and wellbeing objectives. • Sectors are now working together to achieve real change. • In Carlisle health and arts partners are developing high quality and innovative projects. Leadership and good practice. • Cumbria Arts in Health Conversation managed by Healing Arts, University of Cumbria and supported by all partners, successfully engaged health and arts sector.

5. Setting the Scene: Opportunities • Integrated Care Communities. • Social Prescribing, signposting, preventative work. • University of Cumbria: participation and learning • Strategic focus on health and wellbeing: Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council

6. Challenges • Signposting • Developing trust • Investment • Research and evidence • Communication • Capacity and workforce

7. Arts and Health: Strategy “Arts and culture play an important role in the health and wellbeing of our local communities, and widening engagement with cultural activities is a priority within our public health strategy. Organisations like Prism Arts are key to this, as they particularly support the engagement of those who most stand to benefit from it.” Colin Cox, Public Health Director Cumbria County Council “A healthy city needs a vibrant cultural life. In Carlisle we have shown that by actively working in collaboration with arts and cultural partners we can improve the health and wellbeing of our communities” Darren Crossley Dept. Chief Executive, Carlisle City Council

8. Current Examples of City Partnership Healing Arts: Carlisle Hospital NHS Trust lead, Artist Project Director: Partners include Prism, Tullie and University of Cumbria. Incorporating Stroke Dance Project based at University. Lead on Arts Council funded ‘Trust me I’m an Artist’. Prism Arts: Studio Programme emerging artists engage with Tullie collections. Creative Arts and Conversations Stroke Survivors share participants with Stroke Dance Project. Healing Arts Steering Group member & Artistic Director delivering on ACE Trust me I'm and Artist’ Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery: Young people and vulnerable adults including ‘Afternoon at the Museum’ for adults with dementia and carers, and ‘Hope Streets’ a major HLF funded arts engagement programme for young people. Healing Arts Steering Group and part of ACE funded programme.

9. Our Perspective: Prism Arts • Arts Organisation & NPO, 30 years old • Based in Carlisle work across Cumbria. • We work in partnership, across sectors. • Our programme is led by professional artists. • We work with 5000 children, young people and adults with disabilities and older people in every year • We deliver regular high quality weekly workshops, 5 days a week • 230,000 audiences • £200k turnover, 10 staff

10. Prism Arts Vision and Mission Prism Arts Vision: Our vision is a society where everyone can create, access, engage, experience, and participate in excellent arts practice irrespective of age, ability, income or health. Prism Arts Mission is to create opportunities for people and artists facing barriers to engagement in the arts because of health, age or disability; to realise their full creative potential through active participation in, and exploration of, the arts.

11. Our Programme Studio Programme: Weekly creative programme developing adults and young people with disabilities and autism. Developing emerging artists. • Studio Theatre: Theatre company • Studio Arts: Visual Arts Programme • Studio Workshop: Foundation level • Studio West: West Coast. Creative Arts and Conversations: Weekly visual arts workshops for Stroke Survivors. Signposting/ SP programme. Prism Arts Youth Theatre: Weekly and holiday workshops for children and young people with disabilities. Projects that meet our vision & develop opportunities for people to engage and participate in the arts.

12. Our RATIONALE Collative support for Arts and Culture demonstrate a commitment to wellbeing, empowering individuals. We place the person at the centre of the process.

13. People • Our approach with participants and emerging artists with disabitlies: • The individual is at the centre of the process • We understand individual needs • We take time. We build trust • Ambition and aspiration: We make great art • Artistic quality is an essential part of the process • Equality, diversity and access is central to our ethos • Strong relationships within the cultural sector ensure that our participants work is seen and valued. • This approach builds confidence, wellbeing, pride and a sense of self worth.

14. Stroke Survivors: Creative Arts and Conversations collaborative project Letters from the Edge: 2018 • Partners: Prism Arts Creative Arts and Conversations, Tullie House Museum, Distington Community School. • Developed in response to a major exhibition of Percy Kelly’s work at Tullie House Museum • The project engaged children and our group of Stroke Survivors. • The two groups wrote illustrated letters to one another, and attended workshops. • Produced a performance and exhibition showcased in the Museum.

15. Letters from the Edge: Project “Prism Arts are using their unique position and relationship with stakeholders to develop diverse arts activity that enables people to have creative control and excel. This is the result of trust. Its clear Prism Arts are building on delivering high quality experiences with the individuals involved, an outcome of the organisation working within the location, delivering regular arts activity.” Arts Council of England. Artistic Assessment. Letters from the Edge.

16. 5912 people visited the exhibition at Tullie House Museum

17. “The best part was meeting and working with the kids, I loved working with kids.” - Participant “I was very much amazed by the children. They came in with all the confidence in the world and showed lots of respect to us older people and people with disabilities.” - Participant “Thank you – an excellent project bringing 2 groups together who wouldn’t normally meet.” - Audience “Today was a particularly magical day, as some of the childhood stories were acted out by some of the children, performed in the Percy Kelly gallery! How wonderful was that?!” - Audience

18. Developing emerging artists: Wellbeing and talent Studio Theatre participants with learning disability and autism create new original touring productions. Shadow Tales was toured to all the major theatres in Cumbria on the same basis as any other theatre company. • Near capacity audiences and increased box office (+45%) • 3 Theatres and 1 art centre • Engaged a mainstream audience. • Changed perception of disability. • 3 schools in workshops in Carlisle • Match funded by Carlisle City Council

19. Shadow Tales: Old Fire Station, Carlisle 2017 “It really did have everything; visuals, stunning puppets, brilliant music and interaction between performers was a joy!” “The way the performers interacted and supported each other was great.”

20. Community Engagement Carlisle Pageant and Fringe Festival 2018/19 “The March of the Unsung Women” Commissioned by Carlisle City Council, delivered by Prism Arts • Prism Arts led design, making, community engagement, production and artistic direction on the day. • Carlisle City Council managed and promoted the event. 2 Schools, 1 SEND School, Carlisle Youth Zone, Young Carers, Tullie House Museum, Music Links, Blue Jam Arts, older people, stroke survivors, families, emerging diverse artists, Prism Youth Theatre, children and young people with disabilities, students, Artists, Carlisle Women’s Group, community volunteers to plan, design, produce and perform on the day. Over 200 people took part in workshops. 100 performers, 3,000 audience and 1,350 volunteer hours.

21. ACHIEVEMENTS “My husband passed away in February, coming to volunteer making puppets has been so wonderful – I feel so much better. Actually I think you have done more for me than I have for you!” Volunteer

22. Useful Links Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance: https://www.artshealthandwellbeing.org.uk/ Cross Party Parliamentary White Paper http://www.artshealthandwellbeing.org.uk/appg-inquiry/Publications/Creative_Health_The_Short_Report.pdf Aesop Foundation: Two in three GPs believe that engagement with the arts can help prevent ill health, according to new research. http://www.comresglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/J303729_Aesop_GPs-and-Arts-Headlines_March-2018.pdf Halton NHS Cultural Manifesto: Jo Ward  http://www.haltonccg.nhs.uk/public-information/Documents/A%20Cultural%20Manifesto%20for%20Wellbeing.pdf