Summerhall Talk Series: Art & Health

SUMMARY OF ARTIST AS HEALER

UZ Arts, in association with Summerhall, presented a new talk, 'Artist as Healer: the relationship between art and the health service' on 21st August 2014 as part of the Summerhall Festival 2014 programme.

Artist Maria McCavana, clinician Dr. Lindsay MacLeod and Chris Fremantle, a producer of arts and health, took part in conversation exploring subjects such as; how art contributes to our health? What part it plays in the clinical process? What are the issues for artists and producers working in healthcare contexts? What part do patients play in imagining and delivery of the work? How we measure the success of artistic interventions in the health service?

The talk was well attended and well received, and was followed by a strong Q&A session.

For Chris Fremantle's blog summery of the talk and for further discussion around the topic of Art and Health, visit here.

Working with her colleague Bill Breckenridge, artist Maria McCavana has redesigned waiting rooms for CAMHS (Children and Adolescents Mental Health Services) in Glasgow. Using a residency format in the clinic, Maria worked directly with patients as they waited. Maria’s professional practice lies in the collaboration between the community and the artist, combining work with young people and adults with that of her artistic practice, to create imagery and objects. Often the work is placed back into the landscape in which it was developed, such as the waiting rooms.

Chris Fremantle, working as a project manager for Gingko Projects, has been developing the therapeutic design and art strategy for the new South Glasgow Hospitals, which fully integrates the roles of designers and artists within the creation of modern healthcare environments.

Maria McCavana is supported by the IN SITU network, a pan European network of artist and producers, who create, share and develop artistic creation in public space.