26 June 2013

Last night at the Arts & Health South West Awards in Bristol, we received a resounding endorsement for our work. The Shortlist included The Thelma Hulbert Gallery and the RUH’s Art at the Heart project. We are pleased to say that we won the Arts Award for our Mental Health Creative Support Service, covering Bath and North East Somerset. This service supports people who are in the process of recovery from on going mental health problems, anxiety or depression, through creative activities including arts and craft, sculpture, creative writing and singing. Participants learn new skills, build confidence and make friends and are encouraged to continue the work themselves, many going on to become social enterprises in their own right.

Karl Bevis, our new Acting Director, stated “Winning the Arts Award is a great accolade for Creativity Works. We are delighted that the judges recognised the value of a programme where participants are able to continue the work themselves and become self-sustaining groups”. One such group is the Tiny Monuments artists collective, who formed through this service. This group were last night held up as a shining example of how work with vulnerable adults can have a lasting impact when nurtured and developed with care.

Describing their nomination for the Arts Award, Project Manager Philippa Forsey said “We are delighted that we see these emerging artists’ lives turn around and it is great to have Arts and Health South West recognise what works”.

For more information on our Mental Health Creative Support Service click here, or contact Philippa: philippa@creativityworks.org.uk / 01761 438852.