THE HEALING ARTS SCOTLAND ITAC RELAY
A national Participatory Arts Relay, designed and led by ITAC in the lead up to Healing Arts Scotland Week, which invited groups from around the country to contribute their voice to a collective tapestry of artistic responses addressing our key arts and health themes.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
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For Healing Arts Week Scotland, led with the World Health Organisation, Jameel Arts Lab, and Scottish Ballet, ITAC designed and delivered this artistic collaborative project. The HAS ITAC Relay has been a chance for us to highlight and celebrate the amazing arts and health work already happening in communities across Scotland, as led by participatory artists, and join up the various pockets of work which are ongoing. This 6-month initiative activated 20+ Arts and Health cohorts and more than 400 participants across Scotland. Participants included groups focusing on Dance for Parkinson’s, Wellbeing Workshops, inclusive arts spaces, mental health collectives and many more (meet the groups below!).
These groups, although working on similar missions, had never collaborated before. Through the ITAC Relay they connected, developed relationships and ultimately created artistic works in response to stimuli based on the themes of Healing Arts Week, passing them between each other to build a collective artistic tapestry. This project, the first national-scale effort to connect participatory artists in this way in Scotland, is currently featured at the National Galleries of Scotland, the Scottish Parliament, and the Edinburgh International Festival Hub for Healing Arts Week in August 2024.
Join us in exploring the work of the groups below, and learning more about their amazing work.
INITIAL STIMULI
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GROUP CREATIONS
Strand 1
Theme: Loneliness & Isolation
Initial Stimuli : All This and More
video by SEANSE and The Necessary Space with ITAC6
Groups involved:
Performing Arts Studio Scotland (part of Edinburgh College)
Sound Lab and young people from St Mary’s Kenmure
Wellbeing Workshop, The Fruitmarket Gallery
National Galleries of Scotland, Rowan Alba’s CARDS service and NHS Penumbra Milestone
Scottish Ballet’s Time to Dance®
National Galleries of Scotland
Rowan Alba's
CARDS service and NHS Penumbra Milestone
Wellbeing Workshop
Bea Makan
The Fruitmarket Gallery
Strand 2
Theme: Mental Health in Young People
Initial Stimuli: Bodhrán
Groups involved:
Big Noise Govanhill, from Sistema Scotland
Gracenotes, Eden Court
Refresh Arts and Wellbeing, Articulate Hub,
Eden Court Horizons
Live Music Now Scotland – Music at Horatio’s Garden, QEUH
Refresh Arts and Wellbeing
Laura Frood
Articulate Hub
Strand 3
Theme: Dementia
Initial Stimuli: Dance by Willy Gilder
Groups involved:
Scottish Ballet’s Elevate Groups®
Scottish Ballet – Glasgow, Perth and Orkney
Dorchester Arts – Dorchester and Sherborne
Forest Arts – New Milton
The Heart of Newhaven Meeting Centre
Scottish Ballet in collaboration with Seamab School
Future Studios, Eden Court
The Heart of Newhaven Meeting Centre
Newhaven, Edinburgh
Strand 4
Theme: Social Prescribing
Initial Stimuli: Patchwork cloth by Ruth Omorawua
Groups involved:
Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland Network – Bubble 1
Glasgow – Scottish Ballet, Perth – Horsecross Arts, Edinburgh- Dance Base
Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland Network – Bubble 2
Peebles – Scottish Borders, Dundee – Shaper Caper, Aberdeen – City Moves
Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland Network – Bubble 3
Inverness – Eden Court, Stirling – Macrobert Arts Centre
Strand 5
Theme: Creativity in Confinement
Initial Stimuli: Those who hide well live well by By Andrew Cranston
Groups involved:
Project Ability’s Aspire Group
CAPS Independent Advocacy
Art in Healthcare, Room for Art Groups
A collaboration between Bazooka Arts’ Creative & Connected Carers: Coatbridge’ project & Glasgow Print Studio
MEET THE GROUPS
Strand 1 - Loneliness & Isolation
Performing Arts Studio Scotland (part of Edinburgh College) led by Clara Bloomfield
PASS is one of Scotland’s largest training providers in the performing arts. Located in Scotland’s fourth largest college in north Edinburgh, Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) is a superb training institution for those wishing to pursue a career in the performing arts. We have a modern, specifically designed theatre and rehearsal studios, that are accessed by students on courses in dance, acting and technical theatre, make up artistry and theatre costume design. Students have an opportunity to showcase their talents to fellow learners and members of the public through an array of entertaining performances throughout the year.
Sound Lab and young people from St Mary's Kenmure, Mairi Fletcher
The Sound Lab is a registered Scottish charity (SC034953) helping young people and other communities to fulfill their creative potential through free music, media, digital and arts tuition. We currently offer a blend of face-to-face and online music tuition workshops across any creative discipline.
Contact us at the link below to find out more.
"Because Music Matters"
Wellbeing Workshop, The Fruitmarket Gallery, Bea Makan
The Fruitmarket engagement programme provides space to think and make with art, artists and cultural practitioners across art forms, whether you are new to art or are developing your existing knowledge. Projects, workshops, talks, discussions, performances and resources encourage dialogue and exchange through shared enquiry and making. The programme is co-produced with artists, participants and partner organisations, to ensure it reaches and is relevant to our communities.
Rowan Alba (National Galleries partner org) Ailbhe Turley/Sam Rutherford
Partners of the National Galleries of Scotland, Rowan Alba is a charity that seeks to prevent homelessness through a compassionate, non-judgmental approach.
Among their services, they run CARDS (Community Alcohol Related Damage Service), a befriending service matching volunteers to people with addictions and in recovery, offering support and social interaction.
People attending CARDS are at risk from isolation and loneliness and their lack of social interaction can cause many different health issues.
Scottish Ballet's Time to Dance®
Time to Dance® sessions are dance-based classes for people living with dementia or memory loss, their families, friends, children, grandchildren, partners and carers. Each class is led by an experienced team of dance health artists and volunteers, and is accompanied by live music. The session includes a social café before and after the movement class. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Time to Dance® has been made possible by the generous support of Baillie Gifford (Scottish Ballet’s Neurological Dance Health partner), our trusts, foundations, and patrons.
Strand 2 - Mental health in young people
Sistema Scotland, Paul Sullivan
At Sistema Scotland, we're committed to improving lives and strengthening communities through music and nurturing relationships! Our charity targets and works with some of Scotland's most challenged communities through our Big Noise programme. We started with Big Noise Raploch (Stirling) in April 2008, with six musicians supporting 35 young schoolchildren. We now run six Big Noise programmes and work with over 3,500 children and young people across Scotland.
We could not do this without the vital help of our supporters and volunteers! Find out how you can support us through donating to our work or volunteering at one of our Big Noise centres.
Gracenotes, Louise Marshall
Gracenotes, a programme within EDEN Court Inverness, is a group for older, but still very active, dancers who are interested in developing choreography and their performance skills at an in-depth level. We aim to promote the ability of older dancers through this group. A reasonable level of fitness is required.
Refresh Arts and Wellbeing, Articulate Hub, Laura Frood
Articulate was established in 2017 to make sure children with care experience can have a positive childhood. Our purpose is to improve the lives of the young people by scaffolding their innate curiosity and creativity. We provide direct support through the arts for well-being, to build skills and give a voice and platform to those in and those who have left care and who share our vision, mission, and passion for creativity as a tool for emotional, educational, ecological and economic health. Our relationship with places and spaces, including the planet, is pivotal to our charitable purpose (see below) and ten-year plan (available on request).
Eden Court Horizons, Louise Marshall
Horizons, a programme at EDEN Court Inverness, is an inclusive dance group for disabled and non-disabled young people aged 13 - 21 years. Participants meet monthly to develop their technical dance skills and explore creative movement and choreography. There will be plenty of opportunities for self-expression plus the opportunity to perform in November 2024!
Live Music Now Scotland at Horatio’s Garden, Spinal Injuries Unit, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow.
Live Music Now Scotland's mission is to bring high-quality live music to people throughout Scotland, particularly those who would otherwise not have access to its transforming benefits and ability to effect societal change.
Strand 3 - Dementia
Scottish Ballet's Elevate Groups®
Scottish Ballet – Glasgow, Perth and Orkney Dorchester Arts – Dorchester and Sherborne Forest Arts – New Milton
Scottish Ballet’s dance programme, SB Elevate®, aims to support the physical, mental and social wellbeing of people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This programme, which is the first of its kind in the UK, was developed in partnership with MS specialists, University of Florida, Georgetown University, MS Society Scotland and MS Revive. SB Elevate® has been made possible by the generous support of Baillie Gifford (Scottish Ballet’s Neurological Dance Health partner), our trusts, foundations, and patrons.
The Heart of Newhaven Meeting Centre
Our aim is that ‘Through partnership working and community engagement we seek to reduce isolation, challenge and remove barriers to participation and create opportunities for people of all ages, all walks of life and with a variety of interests, to come together. The Heart will help people experience, share and exchange culture and heritage, engage in formal and informal learning and develop business and enterprise skills in an accessible and welcoming environment that contributes to the positive wellbeing of our Community.
Scottish Ballet in collaboration with Seamab School, The Close Project
The Close project provides a first time ballet experience for young adults delivered in partnership with The Kibble Care and Education Centre and Gorgie Mills Special School. This vital education project provides young people with a new and enriching cultural experience. Through artistic projects inspired by contemporary themes based on Scottish Ballet’s productions, individuals are supported to explore their creativity and develop teamwork skills.
Eden Court Future Studios, Louise Marshall, La musique de l'esprit
EDEN Court's Futures Studio is a youth led project for young people in the Highlands and Moray who are facing complex challenges in their lives. The project aims to help the young people build their skills and confidence through taking part in creative activities and enable them to pursue further education or develop careers in the creative industries.
Strand 4 - Social Prescribing
