Monday 14^th November, 2pm

Heartlands Hospital, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham

Praxis’ popular series of Insider Guide events continues with An Insider Guide to Working with Volunteers, in partnership with Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.

Volunteers are becoming an increasingly important resource in a range of arts and health work. Presentations and case studies will explore some of the issues of working with volunteers including:  Read more... (169 words, 2 images, estimated 41 secs reading time)

• Recruiting volunteers
• Keeping volunteers motivated
• The different roles volunteers can play in your work
• Balancing the needs of volunteers and participants
• An overview of your responsibilities

Meet Me @ WAG is a ‘conversation club’ for the over 50′s. Events are held on the last Wednesday of every month. It focuses around interesting discussion topics inspired by art, social and local history collections.

Come along to the monthly event at Wolverhampton Art Gallery for a good chat about… well anything! Previous discussions have been around ‘Weddings and Celebrations’, ‘Making & Breaking’ (crafts), ‘Please Sir’ (schooldays), ‘Seaside’ and ‘The Great Outdoors’. The upcoming discussion this month is:

26th October: ‘The Big Draw.’ From 11am to 12 noon.  Read more... (133 words, 1 image, estimated 32 secs reading time)

Do you find yourself forgetting things? Or know someone who does? We can’t promise to find those lost keys but we could help unlock some precious memories.

A new and friendly way of sharing memories and making new ones through arts and other activities. During the next couple of months these unique sessions will be held at:

Wolverhampton Art Gallery on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month

Bantock House Museum on the third Tuesday of the month

Bilston Craft Gallery on the second Thursday of the month.

For more details see the ArtsinMind website  Read more... (134 words, 1 image, estimated 32 secs reading time)

Thursday 27th October, 9.30—13.30
A free seminar to discuss the evidence of the benefits of music and the arts on health and wellbeing. The aim of this seminar is to share current research in this field and to open a dialogue between the health sector and arts organisations about what evidence of impact is required going forwards.
Keynote Speaker: Professor Stephen Clift, The Sidney De Haan Research Centre

This will be an illuminating and inspiring day for health and social care professionals, local authority officers, voluntary and arts organisations and individual practitioners.

B.V.S.C, 138 Digbeth High Street, Birmingham, B5 6DR
FREE lunch provided  Read more... (192 words, estimated 46 secs reading time)

An annual festival of Arts and Mental Health

Exhibitions, performances and workshops in the visual arts, creative activity, music, poetry and drama

Grand opening Monday September 26th 11am-3pm, Zellig, Custard Factory, Birmingham
Join comedians Betty & Dirk, with music, poetry and drama from Community Vibe.
Delicious buffet by ChangeKitchen

Full programme available from creatives@bsmhft.nhs.uk.

Submissions now open for artwork and poetry:

Exhibition entrants:  Read more... (444 words, 1 image, estimated 1:47 mins reading time)

1. This exhibition is to promote the artwork of people who have experienced mental health problems. If you are a user of services or have experienced mental health problems we try to guarantee that you will get at least 1 piece of artwork exhibited any extra work will be at the curators discretion.

Join Arts and Business for a glass of wine and mingle with representatives from theatres, museums, festivals and galleries who would love your help this year bringing cutting edge art to Birmingham.

You can take part in a free cultural speed dating event in Birmingham… matching you to opportunities.

Date: Monday 19th September
Time: 6 – 8pm
Venue: etc.venues, Maple House, 150 Corporation Street, Birmingham B4 6TB

See here for details

A celebration of arts, health and wellbeing across the West Midlands region.

Arts, Health and Wellbeing at Artsfest
A dedicated Arts, Health and Wellbeing venue featuring work from across the region at Birmingham’s Artsfest on 10th and 11th September. Full programme details here.

Go and See
A directory of arts, health and wellbeing events taking place across the region during September and October including performances, workshops, exhibitions, training events and drop in sessions. Full listings here.  Read more... (136 words, estimated 33 secs reading time)

Free development and networking events for artists working in Staffordshire

Each event includes themed, practical workshops led by experienced professionals followed by networking opportunities to meet new people and share ideas.

Marketing – Explore how to market yourself as an artist in health and wellbeing contexts and how to use social networking to promote you and your work.

Tuesday 27 September, 10am – 12.30pm, Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent

Tender Writing- Changes in the NHS mean that artists will be invited to tender for health based work. Find out how to go about this process, who to contact and how to write a tender that helps you get an interview.  Read more... (218 words, estimated 52 secs reading time)

Windows with a Difference presents

Bobby Baker Talk “Diary Drawings”

When: Wednesday 14 September

Time: 1.30

Location: The Public West Bromwich

ACT UP present SHOUTING a short piece in response to the Drawing titled “Shouting” by Bobby Baker

Bobby Baker will discuss her drawings from an exhibition that shows one person’s experience of severe mental and physical illness and recovery.  Read more... (286 words, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)

A Visioning Day for all those wanting to explore creativity in relation to Dementia

Tuesday 4 October 2011

9.30am to 4.30pm

Oakengates Theatre @ The Place, Telford

The event is open to anyone who wants to have an impact in the way we think about Dementia. We are looking for Volunteers, Carers, Artists, Professionals, Practitioners and anyone with an interest in this field who is willing to explore creative ideas on the future of services in and around Telford. We will be working up a document which will explore creative opportunities for those living with dementia to participate and discuss creativity as a means of improving sense of wellbeing. The day will ensure all those attending have an impact in shaping future delivery around creativity and its capacity to enhance the wellbeing of people living with dementia and their family, carers in Telford and Wrekin. We are seeking a cross section of people to attend.  Read more... (181 words, estimated 43 secs reading time)