The Centre for Arts and Wellbeing held a successful launch event on 24^th February at the Old Ship Hotel, Brighton. The fully booked day welcomed 90 plus attendees from various arts and health organisations throughout Brighton and the UK as well as international guests from as far afield as the University of Victoria in Canada.

The day kicked off with a warm welcome from Tara Dean, University of Brighton Pro Vice Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) who described the Centre for Arts and Wellbeing as “truly interdisciplinary”. Director Duncan Bullen gave an introduction to the Centre, highlighting that “arts education is fundamental to civic wellbeing” and that aims include “addressing global issues where arts can interact with health and wellbeing”.

Next were interesting ad informative presentations from the Centre’s five theme leads: Philippa Lyon: Drawing for Health and Wellbeing; Tom Ainsworth: Design for Change; Jules Findley: Making Well; Jess Moriarty: Inclusion through Narrative; and Helen Johnson: Creative Methodologies.

Marina Novelli gave a talk about Responsible Futures, one of the university’s research and enterprise themes, as well as discussing arts for sustainable tourism and international projects. Special guest speaker Maria Pia Bernardoni, curator of international exhibitions for the African Artists’ Foundation and Lagos Photo Festival, spoke about managing intercultural art projects that offer a different perspective on gender as well as migration issues that help to create positive change.

The round table discussions focussed on topics such as how to be more creative in research and what the role of design is in health and wellbeing. The event wound up with plenty of networking, with colleagues making plans and discussing exciting potential collaborations – watch this space for news of upcoming projects.