CHWA Awards 2025

The ARA Network connects groups, individuals, and stakeholders in the recovery arts sector through its Performing Recovery magazine, conferences, and presence at key events. ARA Network emerged from informal conversations that took place between the key England-based addiction recovery arts organisations: Portraits of Recovery, Fallen Angels Dance Theatre, small performance adventures, New Note Orchestra, Geese Theatre, Outside Edge Theatre Company, The Outsiders Project and Theatre Royal Plymouth. ARA's network is England based but includes artists and groups from USA and Antigua. All of the Editorial Board have first hand lived experience of addiction.

The Knife Angel project shows the power of community collaboration in addressing serious challenges to youth health and wellbeing. It brought together diverse organisations with young people who had direct involvement in knife crime and serious youth violence. The project focused on those whose risky behaviours were severely impacting their own wellbeing and that of their families and communities. Through co-produced creative responses to the Knife Angel sculpture, participants developed powerful spoken word and rap pieces, performing at the installation launch. The project's success led to a year-long engagement, evolving into an album launch, series of performances, professional development and peer advocacy. 

Change is Coming is a film that tackles climate anxiety and turns it into positive climate action which was co-produced by Barnsley Libraries, Fly Girl Films and young people in Barnsley for Green Libraries Week 2024. The library worked with a panel of young people from Barnsley Youth Council to write a brief, score and select a project of their interest for Green Libraries Week. They chose to create a film which opened up new experiences to the young people involved and new creative ways to explore their climate anxieties as well as educate their peers on what they could do to combat these issues. The project culminated in a premier of Change is Coming on the big screen at the Parkway Cinema. This included a Q and A with participants where they shared their thoughts on the filming process and how this had eased their climate anxieties.

hoot has over 10 years’ experience delivering music and singing activities that support relational practice in criminal justice settings across the North and South of England. Their skilled artist team works across these settings, delivering music-making activities, including harmony singing, songwriting, music technology, rhythm, and composition. A key part of their practitioner wellbeing innovation includes relational training and impactful reflective practice sessions for creatives. These sessions were originally woven into the Creative Space model and have now been integrated into OPDP work, ensuring continued support for artists working in these environments.