Carr Gomm staff had the pleasure of attending this year’s Healing Arts Scotland conference in Edinburgh
Healing Arts Scotland is a Scotland-wide celebration of arts and health by the Scottish Ballet and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab in collaboration with the World Health Organization, which took place from the 19th to 23rd of August. The event showcases the importance and positive impact that the arts have on people’s physical, mental, and social health.
Carr Gomm staff and people we support had the privilege of attending the Healing Arts Conference Conference, which featured panel discussions, practical sessions and talks from Christopher Bailey ( Arts and Health Lead at the World Health Organisation), Dr Jill Sonke (Center for Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida) and Sir Gregor Smith (Chief Medical Officer, Scottish Government).
Renate Kriegler Edwards, Carr Gomm Futures Manager, shares her thoughts on the Healing Arts Scotland Conference:
“As an artist-designer-maker, I believe in and have personal experience of the healing power of making something with one’s hands. So much so that I am working on a personal project where I support cancer survivors like myself to create their own unique wearable silver transitional object, while making friends on their road to recovery and new ventures beyond cancer treatment.
I attended several panel discussions at the Healing Arts Scotland conference, hoping to make new connections, learn what others are doing and seek opportunities for collaboration and funding for my project. I jotted down lots of quotes and references endorsing the arts in health to use in my master’s
dissertation – surprisingly, from many clinical medical professionals.
Healthcare is changing and becoming more holistic slowly but surely – certainly in Scotland. And I reflected on how my Carr Gomm colleagues are incorporating
creativity in support without even thinking of it as innovative or value-added. Carr Gomm support practitioners are trailblazers!
It was inspiring to hear stories from people from many different creative disciplines supporting people in physical, mental, social and environmental crises around the world.
I had a lot of fun at a hands-on printmaking workshop with Room For Art – who offers free art workshops across Edinburgh, as well as online Scotland-wide – something we could refer people we support to, so do check them out! “
We want to congratulate Healing Arts Scotland for putting on an amazing event! We cannot wait to return next year.