North West Arts & Health Network

It was wonderful to work in the Republic of Ireland this week, with artists and activists who in turn, are working collaboratively with people affected by dementia, and all hosted by the Butler Gallery in Kilkenny. Thank you for your interest in Dementia & Imagination and sharing your own inspirational practice. For those of you who asked, you can download the handbook free of charge HERE and do remember that we’d really value your feedback on this work. For those of you have emailed about the work I've been exploring with Vic McEwan, but who missed his performance of the hospital bed at TATE Liverpool, I'm pleased to share the short film below. If you need to know more about this collaborative international project, click on the words HARMONIC OSCILLATOR.



BI-ANNUAL COMPETITION FOR NEW WORKS @ WHITWORTH ART GALLERY
The Birth Rites Collection is looking for new or existing artworks, in any medium, which deals with the subject of childbirth. This is an opportunity for your work to permanently become part of the BRC, be featured as a constant on the BRC website, and tour with the collection where it will be shown in future exhibitions, be available to loan for external shows, and be part of any publications released within the collection. In addition to being part of the collection, the prize winner will be awarded a two-week residency at the BRC, and will also obtain a stipend of 250 pounds. All chosen works will be featured for one month on our website and showcased digitally for one night at the Whitworth Art Gallery in September.
 More details HERE.
Application Deadline: 15th July 2017

Call for evidence: The arts for refugee health and well-being.
Deadline 1 November 2017
This call is for work that has not been published academically. If you or your organisation works with refugees or asylum seekers using the arts, and have any evaluations that meet the criteria below, please send it to k.phillips@derby.ac.uk

Evaluation criteria
The participants group must be all or partly refugees and asylum seekers.
The evaluation may use qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods.
The activity may be art therapy or any other art based activities.
The art type must be plastic/ visual art such as drawing, painting, printmaking, mask-making, sculpture, knitting, sewing, woodwork, collage, installation and photography.
The activity must have a health or well-being objective. 

1. Is engaging in visual/ tactile art based activities associated with improved health and well-being in refugees and asylum seekers?

2. Are specific art based activities or modes of engagement associated with specific effects or experiences?


BBC Children in Need Main Grant Programme 
The next closing date for applications to the BBC Children in Need Main Grants programme is the 13th September 2017. Grants of over £10,000 per project are available to not for profit organisations and schools that work with young people who are experiencing disadvantage through:
Illness, distress, abuse or neglect
Any kind of disability
Behavioural or psychological difficulties
And / or living in poverty or situations of deprivation.
Read more at HERE.
 
Funding to support the performing arts 
The next closing date for applications to the Wingate Foundation's Performing Arts (excluding music) grants programme is the 20th September 2017. Funding is available for charities with a record of artistic excellence that require additional funding to broaden their repertoire or develop work of potentially outstanding interest which cannot be funded from other sources. Assistance will also be considered for training and professional development for creative talent or the technical professions. The Trustees additionally wish to support arts projects that place a particular emphasis on addressing educational or social exclusion outcomes. Read more HERE. 

Commission for new work to tour to libraries & villages
Spot on Lancashire and Cheshire Rural Touring Arts are seeking to commission an artist or company from the North West of England to develop a new piece of touring work as part of their libraries strategic touring programme. The £6,000 commission is for the first phase of development leading to a scratch performance by March 2018 to an invited library audience. Full details can be found HERE.
The successful applicant will get support and advice from Spot on Lancashire, Cheshire Rural Touring Arts, librarians in both counties (including two prison libraries) and library users. Ultimately, it is planned that the company will produce a new piece of work suitable for touring to libraries and rural venues across the country.

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