Arts and Health South West (AHSW) closed its doors on 31st March 2024.
AHSW was founded in 2006 and was a leader in developing the creative health ecosystem for 18 years. The organisation delivered international Culture, Health and Wellbeing conferences in 2013, 2017 and 2021 which helped raise the profile of the work across the world. AHSW ‘incubated’ the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance (CHWA) for 2 years until it became an independent CIC in 2021. AHSW also played a key role in the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing and the two-year inquiry that led to the publication of the Creative Health report in 2017. AHSW then hosted the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH) until it became independent in 2021 under the leadership of Lord Howarth of Newport and Alex Coulter, Director of AHSW from 2010-2024 and now Director of the NCCH.
CHWA and the NCCH are working together to ensure the legacy of AHSW has a tangible presence. The NCCH is hosting a AHSW legacy resource and CHWA is taking forward the networking support for practitioners. A joint Press Release can be downloaded here >>
AHSW General Manager, Hannah Mumby, a professional illustrator, created a beautiful image capturing the history of AHSW. Explore the Brief History of Arts and Health South West Illustration and links here >>