...ener the void

This blog may be a little quieter than usual, as your beleaguered blogger takes a 'red-eye' to Australia for two big events: the ARTLANDS Festival and Conference in Dubbo and the Australia Centre for Arts and Health - Art of Good Health and Wellbeing International Conference. This year I've written something about the inequalities and social justice called Weapons of Mass Happiness. It's a presentation of ideas I've expanded around diversity in arts and health, for a book called, Music, Health, and Wellbeing: Exploring music for health equity and social justice to be published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2017. I'll be working with Vic McEwan on some of his outcomes from Alder Hey hospital again and in residency at the University of New South Wales, National Institute for Experimental Arts, where we are hatching plans for a major event in 2017. More of all this soon, but I hope to keep the odd blog posting up whilst I'm away.

For now - a few things on the horizon:

STORYTELLING FOR HEALTH CONFERENCE
We just wanted to let you know that booking is now open for the Storytelling for Health conference, which takes place in Swansea on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th June 2017.  We would be delighted if you could join us, you can book your tickets HERE. 

LIME Music for Health Wingbeats Conference
Further to my previous email about our upcoming exciting LIME Music for Health Wingbeats Conference on Thursday 17th November – please find below a link that will take you to the Eventbrite ticketing page. Due to the nature of the venue there are limited places available so please confirm your attendance at the conference as soon as possible. Click HERE to find out more and book a place.

Help Musicians UK announces new national grants programme 
Independent music charity Help Musicians UK has announced a new funding programme for organisations. Its National Grants Programme is inviting applications from organisations working with musicians across the UK. Successful applicants will receive between £5,000 and £40,000 in funding over a three-year period. The scheme, which runs until 2021, is the first to be launched as part of a new strategy to modernise the way the charity reaches musicians from across all genres and the whole of the country. Read more HERE.

Grants to help new, innovative visual arts projects 
The Elephant Trust has announced that the next deadline for applications is the 16th January 2017. The Trust offers grants to artists and for new, innovative visual arts projects based in the UK. It aims to make it possible for artists and those presenting their work to undertake and complete projects when confronted by lack of funds. The Trust supports projects that develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the fine arts. Priority is now being given to artists and small organisations and galleries who should submit well argued, imaginative proposals for making or producing new work or exhibitions. Arts Festivals are not supported. The Trust normally awards grants of up to £2,000, but larger grants may be considered. Read more HERE.  

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