Restoring the Balance:
the effect of arts participation on informal learning, health and wellbeing

Voluntary Arts England (www.vaengland.org.uk) is presenting a free one-day conference on Tuesday 30 March at FACT, Liverpool.  The conference, part of the Up For Arts project (www.upforarts.co.uk), has been designed to celebrate and recognise projects, schemes and organisations that reach out to disadvantaged communities using arts/crafts as a vehicle for increasing levels of informal learning, health and wellbeing.    

Throughout the day BBC 24’s Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid will chair discussions which will explore the major social, health, economical and environmental benefits in developing opportunities for and participation in arts and cultural activities.

Keynote speakers will be given a platform to share creative ideas and best practice and will highlight exemplar projects such as:

□       ‘Up for Arts’ which is a high profile informal learning/arts participation project within BBC Radio Merseyside.   Up for Arts is collaboration between Voluntary Arts England and the BBC (www.upforarts.co.uk).

□       Liverpool’s Year of Health & Wellbeing.

□       Arts Council England’s national 2010 Arts Participation Campaign

□       ‘Restoring the Balance’, Voluntary Arts England’s latest publication which showcases how wellbeing, health and, in some cases, lives have been transformed as a result of arts participation.

The conference will be thought provoking and inspiring combining insightful keynote presentations and panel discussions with practical workshops, led by some of the most influential figures from across the health, local authority and voluntary arts sector.

□       The conference will be chaired by Susanna Reid - BBC 24’s Breakfast Presenter

□       High-profile keynote speakers will explore some of the crucial questions that arise from ‘engaging hard to reach communities’ in arts/crafts

□       Workshops will provide delegates with advice, guidance, practical tools and an opportunity to share best practice from arts, health and local authorities

□       There will be a panel debate chaired by BBC Radio Merseyside’s Roger Philips

Target Audience

□       Senior Managers working within or across disadvantaged communities.

□       Local Authority Policy Advisors.

□       Charities, Voluntary groups, National Government Organisations, Housing Associations.

□       Health Authorities or local Primary Care Trusts

□       Voluntary arts groups or umbrella bodies.

Outcomes

□       Improved awareness of best practice in terms of arts participation interventions. e.g. systems, procedures, policies.

□       Evidence collated as to current barriers to involvement and new ideas/solutions for removing these.

□       New partnerships developed including sharing of ideas, resources, materials or contacts.

□       Stronger levels of participation within ‘Up for Arts’ or its roll out across the North West.

□       Greater awareness of the Learning Revolution and how to engage with priority groups.

□       Wider take up of ‘Restoring the Balance’ a VAE publication on arts participation, health and wellbeing.

This conference is funded through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills through the Learning Revolution Transformation Fund. 

To register please click the 'Register' button at the top of the page and complete the online registration form.  Please register early to avoid disappointment.