Practitioner support & wellbeing

The wellbeing of the culture, health and wellbeing workforce and the communities it serves requires a shared effort. This resource brings together a range of ideas, opportunities and networks focused on practitioner support.

If we are to work effectively to support health and wellbeing, practitioner support must be embedded in commissioning and funding structures. See our short report on the Practising Well Award, below, for ideas on how to do this.

Please get in touch at info@culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk if you would like to promote any practice and thinking in this area on this page.

The resource includes a selection of GIFS from Kazzum Arts' animation, ‘Supporting professionals impacted by Trauma’

via GIPHY

Background

In the last decade, social support has fallen increasingly to civil society. The 'frontline' now includes many people working with the arts and culture - from freelance artists to librarians. As inequalities rise, we know that the people we work with are in increasingly complex and vulnerable positions. The need for support has been exacerbated by a pandemic that has exposed and heightened existing inequalities and therefore the challenges faced by workers in this field.

This resource recognises that the wellbeing of the culture, health and wellbeing workforce and the communities it serves requires a combined and shared effort.

This effort needs to honour individual lived experience and collective trauma, promote equity and recognise individual choice alongside building community and sector resilience.

We aim to broaden the definition of practitioner wellbeing to acknowledge the needs of all practitioners in this field, from freelance artists/ consultants to senior leaders, from link workers to volunteers. We are all important parts of the ecology and at the alliance are keen to promote and support initiatives that are working to support all practice. Our broader aim is to move towards a culture of care that acknowledges that support must be a mutual effort. Commissioners, partners, participants, funders and practitioners all need to be invested in this culture of care for each other.

We believe that practitioner wellbeing also needs to be embedded in to the bigger questions and actions relating to determining quality, nurturing sustainability and driving innovation.

CHWA initiatives

Practising Well Reflections on Conversation events 2022 in black text on a teal/turquoise background

Practising Well - Reflections on conversations series 2022

Read a reflective blog from Nicola Naismith on the collaborative series of conversations held in February/March 2022 with CHWA and special guests, exploring her new research, Practising Well: Conversations and Support Menu.

The blog includes links to videos of the presentations shared and a link to a poem created by Arji Manuelpillai and participants.

Watch the videos and read more here

Artwork created in response to the theme ‘Bravery’, created during lockdown in April 2020 with Art & Soul

Artwork by Brindi created in response to the theme ‘Bravery’ during lockdown (April 2020) with Art & Soul

From Surviving to Thriving: Building a model for sustainable practice in creativity and mental health

This Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance report (published in February 2022) is the result of a six-month project funded by the Baring Foundation, working with around 150 practitioners to understand how we might help more people and organisations using creativity to support mental health to thrive.

Read more here

Practising Well conversations & support menu Image

Nicola Naismith

Practising Well conversations with Nicola Naismith: Feb & March 2022

Nicola Naismith discussed new research with Alex Evans (Kazzum Arts), Integrative Art Therapist Roshmi Lovatt, Tracy Breathnach (How Ya Doing? Programme Manager, Wales Arts, Health & Wellbeing Network), artist and activist Alistair Gentry, artist Daniel Regan (Arts + Health Hub), artist Arji Manuelpillai, and Chris Stenton (People Dancing).

Event details

Plymouth Music Zone, photo credit Dom Moore 2019.

What can we learn from the Practising Well Award?

This document will provide guidance for employers and commissioners considering their support offers and for funders hoping to understand more about what constitutes good practice. You can read more about the awards themselves further down on this page.

What can we learn from the Practising Well Awards?.docx

Artwork by Lorna Collins

Creative Well

In response to a series of conversations with Yorkshire and Humber members in June/July 2020, CHWA Regional Champions Deborah Munt and Sue Mackay collaborated with integrative arts psychotherapist Roshmi Lovatt to design Creative Well, a pilot programme supporting practitioner wellbeing.

We are currently fundraising to roll this programme out.

Read the evaluation report

Screenshot of Mutual Support Panel CHWA2021

CHWA 2021 Team

Mutual Support at the CHWA 2021 conference

Mutual Support was one of the four themes of our April 2021 conference, A Culture of Care. Head to the Mutual Support Padlet which was populated by panellists and attendees of the CHWA 2021 National Conference, A Culture of Care.

Research, Resources and Blogs

Nicola Naismith

Practising Well: Conversations & Support Menu, Nicola Naismith, 2022

The Practising Well: Conversations & Support Menu research project by Nicola Naismith builds upon the Artists Practising Well report from 2019. It was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council via Clore Leadership.

Nicola Naismith

Artists Practising Well Report by Nicola Naismith

This report recognises that the practitioner, commissioner, organisational leader, funder and policy-maker all have roles to play in the health and wellbeing of creative practitioners, supporting them in their making of quality work.

Read more here

Illustrations by Robin Lane-Roberts for Kazzum Arts

Becoming trauma-informed as an arts and mental health organisation: our journey so far - Alex Evans, Kazzum Arts

Alex Evans, Artistic Director at Kazzum Arts, explains the impact taking a trauma-informed approach has had on their arts work with children & young people, staff and artists, and throughout the organisation. Published by The Baring Foundation, June 2021

Read more here

Reflective practice support for artists working in mental health contexts- people sat around a table

Flourishing Lives

Flourishing Lives: Reflective Practice Groups Report with Nicola Naismith, 2022

The Baring Foundation awarded Flourishing Lives funding to conduct a six month research project into Reflective Practice support for artists working in mental health contexts, working alongside Nicola Naismith – author of the Artists Practising Well report – and therapists Samantha Chilvers and Amanda Whittle.

A person colours in a rainbow flag on a board

Museums Association - Wellbeing Hub

The Museums Association is a dynamic membership organisation that campaigns for socially engaged museums and a representative workforce They have developed the Wellbeing Hub, providing resources for the museum sector including topics such as Building Resilience, Cost of Living Crisis and Redundancy Hub...

Read more here

Impressions of the Sea, created by Sean O'Hagan

Creatively Minded and Practising Well (November 2021)

Over the last 18 months, The Baring Foundation have been looking at the issue of artists' mental health and what they can do to support the artists they fund. David Cutler sets out where they have got to in this work and what's next.

The Support Hub Report- image of brain with rainbow shield

The Support Hub, Arts + Health Hub

The Support Hub Report 2021

Throughout 2020-21 the Arts & Health Hub provided an innovative support project for artists working in the sector. In response to a survey during the first COVID wave, they secured ACE funding to support the immediate needs of artists in our network.

Read the full report here

Circle of Care, Performing Medicine

The Circle of Care Framework: Performing Medicine and Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Trust.

Circle of Care re-envisions compassionate healthcare by describing a multi-directional flow of care between healthcare professionals and their colleagues, patients and carers. The model also positions ‘self-care’ – the way healthcare professionals care for themselves – as fundamental to achieving effective healthcare.

Read more here

Embrodied creative response to CHW21 Conference

Geraldine Montegomerie (LAHWN)

LAHWN Workforce Wellbeing and Development

Head to the Leeds Arts, Health and Wellbeing Network's resource on Workforce Wellbeing and Development resource, providing insights for the arts, health and the arts and health sector.

Find out more here

Julia Fortier: Creative Facilitation for Health and Wellbeing

Research participants in Julia's work have been sharing their pre-COVID-19 facilitation experiences, and practice changes since the pandemic by participating in an online discussion group, a focus group, or in interviews.

COVID-19 Artist Impact Report For Artists Working in Arts & Health by Arts + Health Hub

Read more here

Margaret Giller, Necklace of Stars. Photo copyright Lois Blackburn

An Artist in a Pandemic- a case study by Arts Derbyshire and Phil Davenport

A reflection on practice, connection and support.

Dwell Awhile; a series of podcasts by Dwell Time in partnership with the Yorkshire Visual Arts Network

Peer-nominated artists to talk about their art practice, the contentiously uncritical term ‘resilience’, mental wellbeing and the impact of Covid-19 on their practice.

Listen here

WAHWN

How ya doing? Mae’n Mynd? Wales Arts, Health & Wellbeing Network Artists Wellbeing Programme.

A short film with the findings from WAHWN 's recent consultation for the How Ya Doing? Sut Mae’n Mynd? Artists Wellbeing Programme.

Watch the film here

Outside Edge Theatre Company’s Check-in/Check-out. Photo credit: Ali Wright)

Artists on the frontline – what support is available for artists’ wellbeing?

The Barings Foundation's Harriet Lowe authored this article in Autumn 2020 in response to the the raising issue of practitioner wellbeing in the arts & (mental) health field, with the impact of COVID-19.

Performance for Care

Performance for Care advocates for the integration of arts and creativity within healthcare education and professional development. The collaboration is led by Dr Alex Mermikides (Guildhall School of Music & Drama) and Dr Sara Donetto (King’s College London), and it has a particular focus on performance (theatre and dance) in nursing.

Click here for more resources and information

What's the benefit? Supporting disabled artists who are on benefits

Here is a blog and resource from Unlimited from August 2021. They contracted Alistair Gentry, freelance artist, writer, and former Unlimited trainee, to undertake some investigation what is happening and what everyone can do now...

AUE Good Practice Charter for Artists

Artists Union England's good practice charter focuses on Valuing and Rewarding Artists; Health & Safety; Workers' Collective Voice; Diversity & Equality; Mental Health & Wellbeing in the workplace; and Social Responsibility. The pdf also links to further helpful resources.

Manifesto for a mentally healthy cultural sector

Creative Freedom’s Manifesto for a mentally healthy cultural sector falls under five headings: provide first aid, remove stigma, be vigilant, reduce risk and offer support.

People United

People United are developing a body of evidence showing how and why creativity can grow empathy, develop deeper connections and strengthen people’s belief that they can make change happen. They also produce tools such as Futures of Care Manifesto and in 2022 will be launching an inaugural series of Care Labs exploring caring practices for artists and publishing a new Blueprint of Care.

Arts & Health Hub

The London based hub runs events and workshops, offers peer support, commissions creatives & manages an online community of likeminded artists.

Find out more here

GLAM Cares

A care and support network for Gallery, Library, Archives and Museum community engagement professionals. GLAM Cares aims to provide peer support, networking and training.

Find us on Twitter: @Glam_Care

Hear and Now 2019 in Bedford, co-produced by Orchestras Live and the Philharmonia Orchestra © Beth Walsh

Regional CHWA Activities

Our regional champions are developing different offers responding to regional needs, including practitioner wellbeing.To find out more about your region and champions, click here

To make sure you get regional updates, please do sign up to be a CHWA member on the link below ( it's free!)

Join us! Become a member of the alliance

GLAM Cares

GLAM Cares Training Day: Trauma- informed working for community engagement, Friday 21 October 2022

GLAM Cares network is facilitating a training day at Leeds Discovery Centre about trauma informed working for community engagement in galleries, libraries, museums and heritage sites. Its led by a trained counsellor, who previously worked in museums.
More info and tickets below (it’s a fiver!)

PANIC! Together (11-12th March & 1st- 2nd April, 2022)

The Tetley's PANIC! Network artist-led and peer supported double-weekend programme with The Art House, Wakefield.

A free artist development programme for Artists in Leeds City Region (from Craven to Barnsley, Bradford to York!) . Sessions were co-created with our Steering Group of Artists, with care and wellbeing threads through a lot of this programme.

The Flourishing Lives Reflective Practice Groups

The online groups are aimed at arts, health and wellbeing professionals and offer support and a space to explore and learn with other practitioners working in arts, health and wellbeing settings.

Please contact david@flourishinglives.org with any questions. Flourishing Lives want to run these groups in a way that suits practitioners and value feedback.

Photographs by Becky Bailey for Kazzum Arts

Train with Kazzum Arts

Kazzum's distinctive training sessions introduce practitioners and organisations to the key principles within a trauma-informed approach.

Read more here

Soundcastle

The Soundcastle Community

The Soundcastle Community is an online network of creative music practitioners and a place to connect and reflect with others and share the challenges and successes of your work. Within the community there are a team of hosts and moderators to ensure you feel welcome and that the space is safe for everyone’s voice to be heard.

Thriving Facilitators

Thriving Facilitators is a unique membership community that offers affordable support, supervision and training to an international network of practitioners from all over the world.

If you would like to keep updated about when membership opens, click here

Dr Sheila Preston, founder of Thriving Facilitators, runs regular free challenges and workshops and there are also free resources on her website.

Find out more

WAHWN

Wales Arts Health and Wellbeing Network (WAHWN) and How ya Doing? Sut Mae'n Mynd programme?

The Wales Arts Health and Well-being Network (WAHWN) is a rapidly expanding network of colleagues delivering arts and health work in Wales. They are currently developing the 'How ya doing? Sut Mae'n Mynd?' Artist wellbeing programme.

Here are the 3 main strands of activity:

Creative Peer Support (starts week beg 29 Nov)
Creative Reflective Practice (starts Jan 2022)
Group coaching (starts Jan 2022)

GEM One to One Programme

GEM: One to One Mentoring Programme

This mentoring programme is open to GEM members, of any age/skill level, who have a learning role in museums and heritage sites and is generously supported by Nimrod Capital and The Linbury Trust.

Find out more here

Snape Maltings, Britten Pears Arts

MOT For Musicians in Working in Challenging Settings, Britten Pear Arts

Britten Pear Arts' MOT For Musicians Working in Challenging Settings programme was shortlisted for the CHWA Practising Well Award in 2020.

Click here to check for upcoming opportunities

Creative Futures: Arts & Health Network, Brighton & Hove

A network for Brighton & Hove based freelance artists & health practitioners working in the Arts & Health Sector. The network will meet quarterly and also provide a monthly programme of peer-support activities curated around themes that matter to practitioners.

Scottish Mental Health Arts Network

The Mental Health Arts Network is an idea that has been developing for some time. In 2021, with support from the Baring Foundation, the Mental Health Foundation have teamed up with See Me, Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination, to explore what form it might take.

Mental Health First Aid Training

Become more aware of mental health and equip yourself with the tools to understand and support your own and others' mental health. This course can support workplaces and practitioners.

Read more about the Mental Health First Aid Training Framework here.

Discover courses here

Inc Arts Minds

Ethnically diverse people – whether they are of African or Asian diasporas, or anywhere else in the world – are seriously affected by the attitudes and behaviours of others.

Inc Arts Minds have partnered with Chanua Health to provide FREE group therapy led by qualified counsellors for people who have experienced racism to share their experiences and heal.

Find out more here

Free support for Birmingham based lead artists and projects

Free support for Birmingham based lead artists and projects working with vulnerable clients when delivering activities against health and wellbeing outcomes in Birmingham.

This innovative project is a collaboration between Birmingham City Council Cultural Development Service and Birmingham Centre for Art Therapies.

Man moving with clenched hand in forward motion with observers

Performing Medicine, Clod Ensemble Image credit: Benedict Johnson

Winner: Performing Medicine (2022)

Practical offers of support:

Thorough induction process, with training and opportunities to shadow work.
Practitioners involved in planning/design of programmes from the outset
Co-deliver training with practitioners, providing mutual support
Ensure briefing time before and debrief/reflection post-delivery - time allocated to refresh and reset
Annual review meetings; a conversation and reflective space to process
Annual ‘Get Together’ allowing space and time to build connections
Good rates of pay for all aspects of work and support

" Performing Medicine is proud to be shortlisted for this award because it recognises the care which lies at the very heart of our practice. We are delighted to be able to shine a light on the important contribution of our associate artists, their wellbeing and our role in artist development."

Quote from Performing Medicine

How to Kazzum- Self reflection illustration

Illustrations by Robin Lane-Roberts for Kazzum Arts

Winner: Kazzum Arts (2021)

Practical offers of support:

Independent coaching sessions
Individual and group supervision
Monthly group reflective practice sessions
Employee Assistance Programme with optional free counselling sessions
In-house training for all freelancers and the sector
Practitioners paid to engage in support and professional development activities

“ Participatory work is about connecting with others but as a freelance arts facilitator, it can sometimes be isolating. Kazzum has supported my practice and development by giving me a real sense of community. I feel listened to, valued, trusted and excited that I work here.”

Quote from nominating practitioner

Musicians dressed up at the Plymouth Music Zone Summer Jam 2019

Plymouth Music Zone, photo credit Dom Moore 2019.

Winner: Plymouth Music Zone (2020)

Practical offers of support:

Support Hub:
- Shadowing opportunities
- peer-to-peer support
- snapshot observations
- supervision
- Music leader days (general themes)
Skills pods (specialist areas)
Pastoral support - trained counsellor available
Practitioners paid to engage in support activities

“ It is extremely helpful and encouraging to know that we are not isolated in our work. It is easy to feel overwhelmed and isolated in the emotional backdrop of what we do. It is also really important that we are ‘fed’ by interesting, motivational and current thinking that supports our work.”

Quote from nominating practitioner