A three day international conference on the use of the arts
within health and social care and in promoting healthy communities
is set to be held at The University of Northampton's Avenue Campus
in September.
'Inspiring Transformations: Applied Arts and Health' is a
partnership between the University's School of The Arts and School
of Health. The conference aims to explore this interactive
relationship and evidence the effectiveness of the
interdisciplinary use of arts in health and arts for health.
Between 8-10 September, professionals and academics from the two
disciplines - including health policy makers, neuroscientists,
social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, nurses, art
therapists, dance therapists, artists and drama therapists - will
come together to share research and experiences, explore the
potential of partnerships and establish ongoing collaborations. It
will also provide a forum for debate within a rapidly growing
interdisciplinary field of arts in healthcare and health
promotion.
Dr Ross Prior, Principal Lecturer, School of The Arts, and
Editor of the international Journal of Applied Arts and Health,
commented:
"Although many people have been working in applied arts for a
long time it is only relatively recently that the field began to be
accepted into the contemporary orthodoxy with outward expressions
of 'legitimacy' by government and healthcare professions. We are
now pleased to be able to support this work by pioneering a
clarified approach to the arts and health agenda through the
adoption of more precise terminology such as 'applied arts and
health'.
"The conference allows for a broad definition of 'health' which
includes physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, occupational,
social and community health. The conference provides artists,
researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, therapists,
programme administrators, consumers and funding bodies an
opportunity to report and reflect upon innovative effective
practices.
"The effectiveness of applied arts practices is currently
under-researched and this conference provides a vehicle for high
quality scholarly activity of a regional and international
dimension."
Highlights include two one-day master classes by two
internationally renowned figures: Carole Tarlington, President
Tarlington Training, Vancouver (pre conference) and Professor Shaun
McNiff, Dean of Lesley College & University Professor, Lesley
University, USA (post conference).
Distinguished keynote speakers from the worlds of The Arts and
Health include:
Dr Alida Gersie, Author and Freelance Practitioner, UK
Dr Philip Taylor, Associate Professor New York University,
USA
Dr Frances Reynolds, Health Psychologist and Reader in the
School of Health Sciences & Social Care, Brunel University,
UK
Professor Shaun McNiff, Dean of Lesley College & University
Professor, Lesley University, USA
For further information on the conference, please contact Karen
Haines, Marketing Officer, School of Health, on 01604 892373 or
email: karen.haines@northampton.ac.uk