The theme for this edition, ‘Supporting Well-being through the Arts’, explores how arts and community practitioners have used the arts to enable conversations around processing emotions or sensitive topics, to improve physical health in a measurable way, or simply – and no less importantly – to create fun and enjoyable experiences.
Here are some highlights from the presentations:
To Create, Perchance to Heal
Rosemary McGowan, Applied Theatre Practitioner and Counsellor
To create, perchance to heal – yes, there’s the challenge: for in that creating/creation, what healing may come
By asking questions such as “What about the arts that allows for deeper change?” and “How can applied theatre be used as a tool in mental health and support?,” Rosie explored the possibilities of how the arts supports our all-round well-being.
The Feelings Farm: Social Emotional Learning for Children through Art
Amanda Chong, Poet and Playwright
Playwright Amanda Chong shared about the creation of the musical The Feelings Farm, directed by Edith Podesta, composed by Julian Wong, and produced and commissioned by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay for March On 2021. It was first staged at the Esplanade Theatre in March 2021. The Feelings Farm uses music, movement, poetry and multimedia to help children name and understand emotions with compassion. The artists ran workshops with children of different socio-economic backgrounds and abilities in order to root the play in their real-life experiences. A trauma-informed practitioner ensured the production gave children and adults alike the language to have honest conversations about feelings.
May Wong, Head, Allied Health Services, St Joseph’s Home
The presentation outlined the approaches and methods of two reminiscence drama projects in St. Joseph’s Home: Project Here and Now and Improvisation Drama for People With Dementia. The former focused on co-creating drama with residents with dementia and the latter aimed to train one of the staff in reminiscence techniques.
Mei Yee shared how she used drama to create fun and a sense of achievement amongst the residents, and May explored how the arts supports a person-centred approach in well-being.
Yvonne Farquharson, Founder and Managing Director, Breathe Arts Health Research
Breathe Arts Health Research (Breathe) is a not-for-profit UK-based social enterprise, that designs and delivers creative programmes, underpinned by scientific research, to improve health and wellbeing. Their work is co-designed with artists, scientists, healthcare staff and patients, to meet specific clinical and well-being needs. Yvonne shared insights into Breathe’s best practice programme design, research and evaluation methods and the sustainability of arts and health practices in the current climate. Through personal stories, film and rigorous research data, Yvonne shared examples of two of their programmes and deconstructed some of the ingredients for successful arts and health practice.
Click here for the Key Takeaways from Let's Connect! 2022