As part of Creativity and Wellbeing Week, Lighthouse Poole is to host a special in-person forum meeting supported by Arts Development Company.

The Creative Health and Wellbeing Dorset Forum on Wednesday 21 May will run from 10.30am and is split into two sections.

In the first, Creative Health Lead Gemma Alldred presents a one-hour workshop to introduce the Creative Health Quality Framework, a ground breaking tool that clearly articulates what ‘good’ looks like for creative and cultural initiatives that aim to support people’s health and wellbeing. Funded by Arts Council England and developed by Creative Health consultant Jane Willis in collaboration with over 200 people including creative practitioners, participants, health commissioners, and researchers, it is designed to help anyone involved in developing and delivering creative approaches to supporting health and wellbeing.

In the second session, the Creative Health and Wellbeing Dorset Forum will meet to share, network, find support and talk. This network is for creative practitioners, cultural organisations, and health professionals with an interest in developing arts and health/wellbeing in Dorset and BCP Councils. It’s a space to discuss opportunities and issues facing Health and Culture in Dorset and beyond, and to share projects, events and resources.

Creativity and Wellbeing Week is a festival led by London Arts and Health and the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance, taking place from the 19 to 25 May. The annual event celebrates the role of creativity in supporting and maintaining people to live happy and healthy lives. As well as offering a curated programme, the festival encourages and supports organisations and individuals to organise their own events.

“Creativity is fundamental for our health and wellbeing, and supports us to live well for longer. An ever-strengthening body of research tells us that engaging with creativity and culture improves mental health and wellbeing and can be used in the prevention, treatment, management and recovery of physical health conditions.” All-Party Parliamentary Group Creative Health Review (2023).

To book a place at the forum please visit Creative Health and Wellbeing Dorset Forum: Special May Meeting · Luma.