Monday 11 May 2009, 10.00–16.30

This trans-disciplinary symposium explores the latest developments in arts and health practice and research in order to reveal the potential of the gallery as a unique space for psychological engagement and wellbeing. The day will feature projects developed at Tate Britain and Tate Modern with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Personality Plus and Canterbury Christ Church University along with an opportunity to take part in experiential workshops in the gallery.  

This event is for anyone interested in the relationship between visual art and mental health, including artists, health practitioners and researchers, and service users and carers.  

 

Programme

10.00    Registration & coffee

10.30    Welcome by Silke Pillinger (Curator of Informal Activities, Tate Britain)

10.35    Gina Koutsika (Head of Interpretation, Tate Britain)

10.45    Stephen Firn (Chief Executive of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust)

10.55   The Gallery as Mind: A joint presentation by Neil Springham (Head of Art Psychotherapy, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust), Kirstie Beaven (Exhibitions Editor, Tate Media), Anne Gardener (Project participant) and Fay Stacey (Project participant). This session will introduce the collaboration between curators at Tate Britain and art therapists, service users and carers from Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust who, through the use of listening posts, are exploring the potential of the gallery as a unique psychological resource.

11.50 – 12.10  Coffee break

12.10   The Gallery as Community: This session will be led by Andy Brooke and Kath Lovell from the user led organisation Personality Plus. With the support of partnering arts and health organisations, curators and art therapists, Personality Plus has hosted public events, workshops, performances and exhibitions, including events at Tate Modern, with the objective of dispelling the stigmas attached to a diagnosis of a personality disorder.

12.55 – 13.45  Lunch break

13.45   Rt Hon Lord Howarth of Newport: As Minister for the Arts in 1998-2001, Rt Hon Lord Howarth of Newport worked with Health Ministers to promote the benefits of the arts for healthcare and wellbeing. Last year he introduced the arts and health debate in the House of Lords and followed this by organising a meeting of practitioners with the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson. In consequence, Alan Johnson set up an arts/health working group within the DoH and made a speech in September at the Wallace Collection commending the arts in healthcare to NHS professionals.  Alan Howarth will open the afternoon's proceedings with a brief account of his own experience in this policy field and of what he believes the Government should be doing.

14.00   The Gallery as Laboratory: Dr Paul M Camic (Reader in Clinical & Health Psychology and Research Director, Clinical Psychology Programme, Canterbury Christ Church University) will present arts and health research from galleries in Canada, the United States and United Kingdom, including Tate Britain, and will encourage the audience to consider how they might think about the gallery as a place for personal exploration and learning .

14.45  The Gallery as Experience: This interactive session will take place in the gallery with an opportunity to participate in a choice of workshops or explore the outcome from the project presented in The Gallery as Mind.

15.45 – 16.00    Coffee break

16.00    Plenary Discussion: A chance to feedback and explore next steps.

 

The British Association of Art Therapists are managing bookings for this event, call 020 7686 4217 or email info@baat.org.

Tate Britain  Auditorium
£80 - £150, booking required
Organisations: Early bird (bookings up to 3 weeks before the symposium): £130, thereafter £150 Individuals: Early bird (bookings up to 3 weeks before the symposium): £80, thereafter £100

    

Partners

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Canterbury Christ Church University

British Association of Art Therapists

Personality Plus

Sponsors

CMS Cameron McKenna

Taylor & Francis

Howden Insurance Brokers