Successful Arts Funding for Arts & Minds Project
A team of health professionals across the health board has been successful in an application to the Arts Council of Wales for continuing funding towards an Arts & Minds project.
1,000 days is a programme of creative interventions for parents experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges or who need support within their parent-infant relationship, alongside their babies, in the first 1,000 days. They are referred by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s Perinatal and Gwent Parent Infant Mental Health Services.
Working collaboratively through art, artists, and clinicians are able to have a positive impact through music and movement to support mental health recovery and wellness in parenthood, as part of the Arts and Minds programme.
Sarah Goodey, Arts Development Manager said: “It’s testament to the hard work and innovation between creative and clinical practitioners to design a bespoke creative activity for Parents who are supported by G-PIMHS, Perinatal and Flying Start services. Year 3 will see the project continue to deliver as in years 1 & 2 with more sessions for participants and making deeper connections to follow on activities in the community with 3rd sector organisations.”
Each group had up to 8 parents (either mums or dads) with their babies. They were led by a team of staff including a lead artist and visiting artist, assistant psychologist or placement student and a peer mentor or dads support worker.
Lead Artist Deborah Aguirre Jones said: “Creativity can be seen as a set of skills for making objects or performances, however we chose to focus instead on processes and interactions. Particular media and activities were initially introduced so participants could relax into their bodies in a spacious, safe space alongside others.”
“In the turmoil of new parenthood, this non-judgemental space allowed for a creative connection with self and core values. Participants seemed more able to notice, allow and represent feelings which might otherwise be difficult or overwhelming”
Assistant Psychologist Laura Bolton said: “The activities and content varied from group to group, and session to session, but a thread which ran through them all was articulating experiences through creative means.”
“The vast majority of words [used to describe the project] were encouraging, such as ‘friendly’, ‘mindful’ and ‘fun’ and even ‘inspiring’, ‘carrying’ and ‘embracing’.”
The 1,000 days project is one of several projects across Wales funded by the Arts Council of Wales. It is a collaborative project also funded by the The Baring Foundation and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and is set to continue into Year 3 of the project with further funding achieved.
Further information on Arts Council projects can be seen here: Arts Council of Wales | Arts Council of Wales
Documentary drawings of creative sessions in Newport and Cwmbran made by artist Geraint Ross Evans