creativeEmerge
Training in Creative Health Practice
September 2024–May 2025
Applications due 3rd June 2024
A new training programme
Starting in September 2024, this 9-month free training programme will support the professional development of a group of 15 artists in the West of England Combined Authority area who would like to work in cultural social prescribing and other arts and health programming. Supported by Arts Council England through the Culture West initiative, we aim to develop a new cohort of commission-ready practitioners who can partner with experienced artists and local partner organizations to deliver creative health activities in the area.
Who it’s for
We welcome applications from early career socially-engaged artists, especially those who may be underrepresented in the creative health field. This may include those from rural, disadvantaged, or global majority communities; young people, 18-30; people with lived experience such as mental health concerns or disabilities; and those from local grassroots organisations.
Applicants must be based in the West of England Combined Authority area (the local authorities of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset or North Somerset.
In this programme you will:
- Learn the key principles and practices of creative health programmes
- Develop your capacity to deliver in social prescribing and other health and wellbeing programmes with a variety of community and statutory partners
- Participate in a supportive and sustainable practitioner peer network for continuous learning and collaborative working
- Learn how to reflect on your practice with colleagues, partners, and mentors
Programme details
The programme will start September 2024 and run through May 2025. It consists of 8 modules, delivered in a 3-hr workshop and a 2-hr community of practice meeting each month. Participants will engage in their own arts and health practice or participate in a shadowing placement. They will also receive three 1-hour professional mentoring sessions, and participate in personal and collaborative assessments. More details on these formats are below.
This training will be delivered primarily online to support access across the region, with two in-person sessions held in Bristol
There is no cost to selected participants, but you must be able to participate in all the sessions and activities to qualify for the certificate of completion. The total time commitment per month is anticipated to be about 6 hours in addition to your arts and health practice/placement.
APPLICATION SCHEDULE
| Activity | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | 5pm - 3rd June 2024 |
| Notification of Shortlisting | 10th June |
| Recruitment Workshop | 4th July (Venue TBC) |
| Notification of Acceptance | 8th July |
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are due by
5pm 3rd June 2024.
The application form has two parts:
1) Basic details
2) Interest questions
These can be answered on the form or you can submit answers by audio/video recording.
After we review the applications, we will invite a group of finalists to participate in a creative workshop with activities similar to those in creative health delivery.
The workshop will be held on Thurs 4th July 2024
and participation is a required part of the selection process.
The final group of selected 15 training participants will be notified on by 8th July 2024.
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
| Module | 3hr Workshop (Thurs 9.30-12.30) | 1.5hr Community of Practice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - Introduction to Creative Health | 5th September | w/c 16th Sept |
| 2 - Creativity and Health | 3rd October | w/c 14th Oct |
| 3 - Creative Health Programme Design | 7th November | w/c 18th Nov |
| 4 - Facilitation skills in Creative Health | 5th December | w/c 16th Dec |
| 5 - Person Centred Creative Health Approaches | 9th January 2025 | w/c 22nd Jan 2025 |
| 6 - Safe & Professional Practice | 6th February | w/c 20th Feb |
| 7 - Partnership Working for Creative Health | 6th March | w/c 20th Mar |
| 8 - Your Creative Health Practice in the World | 3rd April TBC | w/c 21st Apr |
| Review | May | TBC |
| Peer Support & Self-organised CoP | June |
How you’ll learn
The eight learning modules will be delivered through a variety of collaborative learning experiences:
- Each module will be presented in a group training workshop at the beginning of each month (3 hours) that will feature a combination of presentation, group discussion, small group work, and creative activities, along with some home-learning.
- 2 weeks after each workshop at a regular meeting time, groups of 5 participants will attend Community of Practice (CoP) meetings with an experienced artist facilitator to discuss the module content, their own practice experiences, and other topics decided by the facilitator and the group (action learning approach).
- Participants will have 3 individual meetings with a mentor during the training period to discuss specific practice issues in a supervision/support format.
- Throughout the training period, participants will be conducting their own practice and/or participating in shadowing or practice placement opportunities.
- Participants will keep a reflective journal throughout the training period and participate in assessment activities during and at the end of training.
- Upon completion of the full programme, you will receive a certificate of completion.
After the training period ends, participants will be encouraged to continue their CoP groups on their own for ongoing peer support.
What you’ll learn
Sample topics that will be covered in training and CoP sessions:
- The aims and practices of creative health delivery, including design principles, using co-production and partnership methods, and evaluation tools
- Facilitation skills, including group management, supporting positive and appropriate social engagement, and managing challenging/emergent situations
- Safe and professional practice, including risk assessments and safety protocols, managing health and mental health needs, working with support, managing safeguarding, ethical behaviour
- Emotional safety for facilitators, including understanding the mechanisms of emotion work, managing interpersonal boundaries, self-care, and support.
- Incorporating public health thinking, including social determinants of health/lifestyle/context issues; evidence-based practice; health and social care thinking, expectations and outcomes.
- Understanding the goals and structures of creative and green social prescribing, including how to develop appropriate programmes, and build delivery relationships
- Becoming commission-ready: understanding the requirements of commissioners, developing and negotiating commission proposals, and creating appropriate business practices and infrastructure
TRAINING TEAM
The programme is being developed and led by Dr Julia Puebla Fortier, formerly of Arts & Health South West, and Philippa Forsey, formerly of Creativity Works in Radstock. They will be joined by a team of experienced artist trainer/mentors from the region. The programme is hosted by creativeShift in Bristol, with support from arts and health delivery and training specialist Julie Matthews.
Julia Puebla Fortier
Formerly Arts & Health South West
Julia led the Creative Health Learning Alliance for Arts & Health South West, which offered collaborative learning workshops for creative health practitioners over 2 years. Her doctoral research focused on the experiences, training and support needs of artists working with people with challenging health and psychosocial conditions. She has expertise in the emotional dimensions of creative health work, participatory evaluation, and co-production approaches.
Philippa Forsey
Formerly Creativity Works
Philippa is experienced in co-creating innovative arts and health solutions within local and regional health and wellbeing agendas. Working with a variety of stakeholders has resulted in successful outcomes for individuals, peer-led groups and community organisations including the NHS, health and social care services, children’s services, education and cultural organisations. As the Creative Wellbeing Service lead for Creativity Works for 20+ years, she managed programmes, events, training, mentoring freelance artists, consultations and fundraising.
Julie Matthews
creativeShift CIC
Julie is cofounder & Director of creativeShift CIC a leading Creative Health organisation in the South West delivering programmes and projects in collaboration with Health, Social Prescribing, Community and Cultural partners. Informed by a background in spatial design and socially engaged arts practice delivery and management, Julie has been at the forefront of Creative Health development and continues to shape the sector through training, mentoring, academic research and consultation. Essentially Julie is a Creative Health Practitioner who delights in the magic of creativity to transform people’s lives for the better.
creativeEmerge is funded by:
