Art Workshops for Wellbeing
I am passionate about art and wellbeing. Over the years I have used art for my wellbeing and for my children who have suffered ill health and have witnessed first-hand the tremendous benefits art brings in terms of distraction from symptoms, in managing health conditions, achieving a boost from gaining a new skill and in bringing hope and joy to the day.
Because of this experience I now seek to bring art to others in the hope that they receive similar benefits to those we as a family experience.
Stirling Workshops with HSTAR
HSTAR workshops
HSTAR is a charity that provides counselling, mental health wellbeing therapies and workshops for women in Scotland over 16 who are affected by trauma or abuse.
Participants with an interest in art workshops for the promotion of good mental health and wellbeing were referred to me by this charity.
5 art sessions were offered to the charity free of charge as this was a funded pilot project.
Data was gathered from the participants at the end of the block in the form of a questionnaire to ascertain as to whether the participants found the sessions beneficial to them and if so in what way.
Specific comments as to how they felt this improved their wellbeing were due to it being a “small closed group for women suffering trauma and this made it a safe place” for them. Another said that the sessions were “really enjoyable as they were learning things they had not done before”. Another commented on “feeling calmer and collected and less nervous than usual” and that the sessions “brought many positive emotions.” Finally, another spoke of the sessions being “relaxing”.
Therefore the overall outcome was very positive with all of the participants saying that they felt that the workshops improved their mental health and wellbeing.
Participants Imagery
Perth Partnership Workshops
Funded by PKAVS & Perth and Kinross Council
Referrals from The Lighthouse for Perth, and three youth partnership organisations,
YMCA Tayside, KYTHE and The Breathe Project
Perth Partnership Art Workshops for Wellbeing.
This project was a pilot project running a 8-week programme of art workshops for wellbeing with young people aged between 16 - 25 years of age struggling with mental and or physical health issues or young carers.
The focus of the sessions was to use a preventative and promotional approach to support young people’s mental health and wellbeing. To do this sessions were run by three collaborative partners, YMCA Tayside, Kinross-shire Youth Enterprise (KYTHE) and The Breathe Project. Each of the sessions were led by a professional artist and supported by a youth worker from each partnership organisation.
The main purpose of the art intervention was for the promotion of the young people’s mental health and wellbeing and to identify if art workshops were beneficial to the participants and if so in what way. Research was conducted using discussion, questionnaires and case studies to ascertain identifiable specific benefits to them in the management of their conditions and whether art helped them improve their sense of wellbeing.
The participants were obtained by each of the partners identifying young people who would benefit from this type of programme. Also participants were referred by the Lighthouse for Perth a suicide and self-harm prevention charity.
Funding for the programme was obtained from PKAVS, P & K Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund and from Perth and Kinross Council.
Art Workshops with The Lighthouse for Perth
As part of my BA (Hons) in Contemporary Art practices I collaborated with The Lighthouse for Perth a suicide and self-harm prevention charity and ran art workshops for the promotion of good health and wellbeing with young people with an interest in art.
The first year was during lockdown and so the sessions were videos of various art techniques for them to try.
The second year was in person and I ran 6 weeks of face to face art workshops.
Research was conducted to gather baseline data on their use of art to help them feel better. During sessions questions were asked as to whether they found the activities enjoyable or beneficial and at the end of the block of sessions a questionnaire was given to the participants as to whether they enjoyed the sessions, if so what did they enjoy. Also to gather information as to whether they found the session beneficial to their wellbeing and if so in what way.
Each participant was given an art kit so that they could do artwork from home.
