Arts in Health

Taking part in the arts is good for you as well as fun! That is the message we have gained from our 'Artspulse' project, which set out to test whether people had a greater sense of wellbeing from taking part in a range of arts activities. So far the study shows that arts projects have many health benefits, including confidence building, aiding relaxation, teaching new skills, developing social & group working skills and so on.

Arts in Health projects are for anyone, from any sector in the community - please see below our current projects, local groups and past projects to inspire you!

The Arts in Health Project is led by Arts in Health Officer Rhiannon Lister-Coburn. However, as Rhiannon is currently on leave, please contact:

For general enquiries and advice on new projects
Lizzy Alageswaran on 01709 823636,
email lizzy.alageswaran@rotherham.gov.uk

For enquiries about the Artspulse project:
Jennifer Booth on 01709 823637
email jennifer.booth@rotherham.gov.uk

Our current project: Artspulse

Over the last few years within Rotherham’s Arts in Health work, we have been looking at the evaluation of our projects and developing different methods for testing whether taking part in the arts really does make a difference to how people feel.

As part of the Artspulse project these have been collected together to form a ‘user friendly’ toolkit, as well as information regarding other methods and techniques, to form a more general booklet of advice. We hope this may be of interest to community groups and anyone running projects to increase health and wellbeing. The Toolkit may also be of interest to those running non arts-based activities, such as sports projects and so on.

This toolkit is designed as a set of simple downloadable resources for the evaluation of Arts in Health projects. All of the questionnaires and templates have been tested during the Arts Pulse project.

Download the Artspulse Toolkit
This is a PDF document icon. Arts in Health Evaluation Toolkit (1.4 Mb)

This project is funded by Arts Council England This is the Arts Council's logo.

Groups

Second Bite, Arts with Older People in residential homes.
Musicians, dancers and visual artists ran regular workshops with residents aimed at improving mobility, concentration and having fun! These workshop were very successful and as a result the Older People’s Activities group (OPA) was established; this is open to any staff who work with older people, and have an interest in developing activities.

This is an image of a SCOPE drama rehearsal This is the Arts Council's logo.

KaleidoSCOPE

Rhiannon worked with Scope Daycentre and Rotherham Day Service to create a theatre project for disabled adults. This has resulted in the creation of Cake House Drama Group, Rotherham’s own theatre group for people with physical disabilities. The group are open to new members and meet on Wednesdays.

This is an image of a SCOPE drama rehearsal

The Upstarts
This is a theatre group for adults with learning difficulties who have an annual production at Rotherham Arts Centre. The group meets weekly to devise the production.

Past Projects

Enhancing the Healing Environment programme
Rhiannon worked with Primary Care staff at the Child development Centre at Rotherham Hospital in an award winning project to employ artists to redesign the waiting area to provide an interactive stimulating environment for child patients.
Funded by the Kings fund and NHS Estates

Melton House
Rhiannon worked with visually impaired adults to design a sculpture and dance project.

Clifton Court
Rhiannon worked with a women’s group to create a multi-artform project to raise confidence and self esteem levels.