Community Art Project // Be Creative Be Well // London

I have come across this review of a 3 year ongoing community art project in London by the Arts Council England.  I am going to read through this and take notes here.

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/media/uploads/pdf/BCBW_final.pdf

Be Creative Be Well

Arts, wellbeing and local communities

An evaluation

Well London

"The Well London Alliance Partnership has been awarded a Health Promotion and Community

Wellbeing award from the Royal Society for Public Health. This award recognises the

partnership’s achievements and innovative approach to promoting community health and

wellbeing in 20 of London’s most disadvantaged areas.

If we are to reduce health inequities it is essential to take action on the social determinants

of health – the ‘causes of the causes’ of ill health. That means working in partnership at

local level to improve the social conditions in which we are born, live, grow, work and age.

The Well London Alliance Partnership does just that. Empowering individuals and

communities, and giving people a voice is integral to addressing health inequalities. I am

delighted the Partnership has achieved well-deserved recognition for its work"

This shows creatives and health professionals finally working together to help their communities:

"In the words of the authors of this report: ‘Be Creative Be Well represents a significant step

forward in a growing dialogue between the arts and health professions, each having taken its

own path to a common goal of promoting wellbeing.’ As Well London moves into its second

phase of development and Be Creative Be Well continues to be a key theme, we commend

this report to all professionals and organisations that are concerned with the health and

wellbeing of communities, including local government, NHS trusts, GPs, housing associations, organisations in the voluntary and private sectors, and artists and arts organisations. All of us have a commitment to reach out to and support communities – this work offers real inspiration about how we might do that with energy, with creativity and with a sense of shared purpose"  

"The Well London programme included 14 projects. Some focused on support for community engagement and capacity building while others were based around five themes: culture and tradition, healthy eating, mental health and wellbeing, open spaces and physical activity. The culture and tradition theme was delivered through Be Creative Be Well, an ambitious programme developed by Arts Council England. However, creativity in the Well London programme was not confined to Be Creative Be Well – creative approaches were embedded throughout."