Director's Blog - April 2024 | Blog y Cyfarwyddwr - Mis Ebrill 2024
25/04/2024 | Author: Angela Rogers
It’s been another busy month for team WAHWN as we begin our first year as a multi-year funded organisation and navigate the new responsibilities and opportunities this brings.
Spring has now definitely sprung, and I hope you’re finding time to enjoy some nature and glimpses of sunshine.
At a recent What Next Cymru? session, it was great to hear the Chair and Chief Executive of ACW, Maggie Russell and Dafydd Rhys, refer to the growing momentum and impact of our arts and health sector in Wales and the need to explore opportunities to promote this internationally. WAHWN is proud to have supported two international delegations in the last couple of months, as well building European creative ageing networks and links. At the April What Next? (UK) we shared a platform with Culture Health & Wellbeing Alliance and the Centre for Creative Health to highlight the conditions necessary for effective partnership working. Sparky Samba and storyteller Phil Okwedy were also invited to share their work and showcase exemplary practice in arts and health collaboration.
With the recent election of Vaughan Gething as First Minister we have seen a number of changes in roles. We wish Lesley Griffiths every success in her role as Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, where her responsibilities include culture, the arts, sponsorship and remit of ACW and implementation of the Well-being of Future Generations framework. We would also like to extend our thanks for helping to support political traction for arts and health to Jane Bryant, MS who has recently stood down as Chair of the Senedd Cross Party Group on Arts and Health as she takes up her new role as Minister for Mental Health and Early Years. With the Culture Strategy due to be published towards the end of this year, Delyth Jewell, Chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee invites us to ‘drip feed’ our resources, evaluation and stories of our work throughout the year SeneddCulture@senedd.wales
Staying on the theme of new appointments, we would like to wish Liz Clarke all the best in her role as Interim Programme Manager for Arts Health & Wellbeing at ACW, after Sally Lewis’ departure in March. We are also delighted to welcome our new WAHWN team member, Tom Bevan to manage our new ACW-funded workforce diversity pilot programme Stepping In.
“I am thrilled to be working with WAHWN on the Stepping In project, bringing skills and experience as a Producer and Project Manager in the theatre and live arts sector. We're on a very exciting arts and health journey in Wales and I feel honoured to be holding space for this vital programme and to be able to learn from the brilliant work of the WAHWN team and all the members.”
Academics and organisations from across the UK are keen to learn alongside us as they develop their own workforce diversity initiatives and we look forward to collaborating with a wider community of practice to share challenges and learning along the way.
It was great to have the opportunity to share learning from our Baring Foundation funded ‘How Ya Doing?’ artist wellbeing programme at the recent Arts Council England ‘Keeping Safe’ webinar alongside colleagues from across the border, and our work will be featured in an upcoming ACE report highlighting best practice in supporting artist wellbeing.
Our Creative Health Marketplaces are going from strength to strength with a growing number of health, social care and third sector professionals attending keen to learn about community assets in their region and the benefits of creative prescribing. To date 88% of attendees said they made new connections and feel more part of a community as a result of attending, and 66% told us they have an increased understanding of health and third sector partners work in their region, which can improve referrals and partnership working. We look forward to joining colleagues at the upcoming Denbighshire and Gwynedd Marketplaces in June and Swansea in July.
With Creativity & Wellbeing week taking place 20th – 26th May, our May network meeting will shine a light on some exemplary practice in Wales and promote the fantastic work of some of our freelance members. We look forward to welcoming Kathryn Lambert, Hywel Dda UHB and Professor Wendy Keay-Bright to our June network meeting to share different approaches to evaluating arts and health projects and our July network meeting will focus on the upcoming Hapus campaign with Public Health Wales, highlighting opportunities to get involved. Following the Hapus workshop earlier this month, we look forward to collaborating with Public Health Wales as they plan a series of pan-Wales community events, new website and resources.
With the 11th June deadline for responding to the Welsh Government draft Mental Health Strategy just around the corner, we would like to encourage all WAHWN members to submit a response. We will be submitting a response to further advocate for the arts and creativity within the strategy and will share this with members next month to support you to draft your own responses. You can take a look at the Welsh Government consultation documents here.
We are pleased to be able to offer more Go and See bursaries this year (up to £200). In this round, a percentage of bursaries will be dedicated for Welsh language, global majority and Deaf/Disabled practitioners, who have been underrepresented in applications to date. We encourage members to only apply for the amount they need to ensure a fair distribution of the funds. Previous recipients have undertaken the Wrexham Glyndwr Introduction to Arts and Health short course, cultural visits and learned new creative skills. You can find out more and apply here.
The next deadline for ACW Arts Health & Wellbeing Lottery funding is Wednesday 22nd May. For anyone new to this funding, the aim is to support partnerships from across the arts, health, social care and third sectors to provide high-quality creative projects that deliver health and wellbeing benefits. There are different levels and strands of funding, starting with up to £15k for a test/groundwork phase; invest up to £35k; scale up to £50k, as well as training for priority areas. Grantees are invited to attend the WAHWN bi-weekly learning groups offering a supportive space to share challenges, work through these together, as well as hear from external contributors who bring specific expertise around evaluation, funding and telling your story.
We look forward to welcoming you at one of our many upcoming events
Onwards and upwards!
Angela Rogers
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Mae’n wanwyn o’r diwedd, a gobeithio eich bod wedi gallu dod o hyd i amser i fwynhau byd natur ac ambell gipolwg ar yr haul.
Bu’n fis prysur arall i dîm WAHWN wrth i ni ddechrau ar ein blwyddyn gyntaf fel corff sy’n derbyn cyllid dros sawl blwyddyn ac ymrafael â’r cyfrifoldebau a’r cyfleoedd newydd a ddaw yn sgil hyn.
Mewn sesiwn What Next Cymru? ddiweddar, roedd yn wych clywed Cadeirydd a Phrif Weithredwr CCC, Maggie Russell a Dafydd Rhys, yn cyfeirio at fomentwm ac effaith cynyddol sector y celfyddydau ac iechyd yng Nghymru a’r angen i edrych ar gyfleoedd i hyrwyddo hyn yn rhyngwladol. Mae WAHWN yn falch i fod wedi cefnogi dwy ddirprwyaeth ryngwladol dros y misoedd diwethaf yn ogystal â meithrin rhwydweithiau heneiddio creadigol a chysylltiadau Ewropeaidd. Yng nghyfarfod What Next? (y DU) ym mis Ebrill buom yn rhannu llwyfan gyda’r Gynghrair Diwylliant Iechyd a Llesiant a’r Ganolfan Iechyd Creadigol i dynnu sylw at yr amodau sydd eu hangen ar gyfer gwaith partneriaeth effeithiol. Gwahoddwyd Sparky Samba a’r storïwr Phil Okwedy hefyd i rannu eu gwaith a dangos arfer enghreifftiol o ran cydweithio yn y celfyddydau ac iechyd.
Gydag ethol Vaughan Gething yn Brif Weinidog yn ddiweddar gwelwyd newid mewn sawl rôl. Dymunwn bob llwyddiant i Lesley Griffiths yn ei swydd yn Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Ddiwylliant a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol, gyda’i chyfrifoldebau’n cynnwys diwylliant, y celfyddydau, nawdd a chylch gorchwyl CCC a gweithredu fframwaith Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol. Hoffem ddiolch hefyd i Jane Bryant, AS am helpu i gefnogi llais gwleidyddol i’r celfyddydau ac iechyd. Mae Jane wedi rhoi’r gorau i Gadeiryddiaeth Grŵp Trawsbleidiol y Senedd ar y Celfyddydau ac Iechyd yn ddiweddar wrth iddi ymgymryd â’i rôl newydd yn Weinidog dros Iechyd Meddwl a Blynyddoedd Cynnar. Gyda disgwyl y caiff y Strategaeth Diwylliant ei gyhoeddi tua diwedd y flwyddyn, mae Delyth Jewell, Cadeirydd y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, Cyfathrebu, y Gymraeg, Chwaraeon a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol yn ein gwahodd i gyflwyno adnoddau, gwerthusiadau a straeon am ein gwaith yn raddol drwy gydol y flwyddyn SeneddCulture@senedd.wales
Gan aros ar thema penodiadau newydd, dymunwn y gorau i Liz Clarke yn ei rôl yn Rheolwr Rhaglen Dros Dro ar gyfer y Celfyddydau Iechyd a Llesiant yn CCC, yn dilyn ymadawiad Sally Lewis ym mis Mawrth. Rydym ni hefyd yn falch i groesawu aelod newydd o dîm WAHWN, Tom Bevan, fydd yn rheoli ein rhaglen beilot ar amrywiaeth yn y gweithlu a gyllidir gan CCC Camu i Mewn.
“Rwyf i wrth fy modd i fod yn gweithio gyda WAHWN ar brosiect Camu i Mewn, gan ddod â sgiliau a phrofiad fel Cynhyrchydd a Rheolwr Prosiect yn sector y theatr a chelfyddydau byw. Rydyn ni ar daith gyffrous iawn yn y celfyddydau yng Nghymru, ac rwy’n ei theimlo’n anrhydedd i fod yn dal lle ar y rhaglen hanfodol hon a gallu dysgu o waith rhagorol tîm WAHWN a’r holl aelodau.”
Mae academyddion a sefydliadau ledled y DU yn awyddus i ddysgu gyda ni wrth iddyn nhw ddatblygu eu mentrau eu hunain ar gyfer amrywiaeth yn y gweithlu ac edrychwn ymlaen at gydweithio gyda chymuned ehangach o ymarfer i rannu heriau a gwersi ar hyd y ffordd.
Roedd yn wych cael cyfle i rannu gwersi o’r rhaglen llesiant artistiaid a gyllidir gan Sefydliad Baring ‘Sut Mae’n Mynd?’ yng ngweminar diweddar Cyngor Celfyddydau Lloegr ‘Keeping Safe’ gyda chydweithwyr ar draws y ffin, a chaiff ein gwaith ei gynnwys mewn adroddiad arfaethedig gan y Cyngor yn tynnu sylw at arfer gorau wrth gefnogi llesiant artistiaid.
Mae’r Marchnadoedd Iechyd Creadigol yn mynd o nerth i nerth gyda nifer cynyddol o weithwyr proffesiynol o feysydd iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol a’r trydydd sector yn awyddus i glywed am asedau cymunedol yn eu rhanbarth a buddion rhagnodi creadigol. Hyd yma dywedodd 88% a ddaeth eu bod wedi gwneud cysylltiadau newydd a’u bod yn teimlo’n fwy o ran o gymuned o ganlyniad i ddod, a dywedodd 66% wrthym fod ganddyn nhw well dealltwriaeth o waith partneriaid iechyd a thrydydd sector yn eu rhanbarth, a all wella atgyfeiriadau a gwaith partneriaeth. Edrychwn ymlaen at ymuno â chydweithwyr ym Marchnadoedd Sir Ddinbych a Gwynedd ym mis Mehefin ac Abertawe ym mis Gorffennaf.
Cynhelir wythnos Creadigrwydd a Llesiant ar 20-26 Mai, a bydd cyfarfod rhwydwaith mis Mai yn tynnu sylw at arfer ragorol yng Nghymru ac yn hyrwyddo gwaith gwych rhai o’n haelodau llawrydd. Edrychwn ymlaen at groesawu Kathryn Lambert, BIP Hywel Dda a’r Athro Wendy Keay-Bright i gyfarfod rhwydwaith mis Mehefin i rannu dulliau gwahanol o werthuso prosiectau celfyddydau ac iechyd a bydd cyfarfod rhwydwaith mis Mehefin yn canolbwyntio ar ymgyrch arfaethedig Hapus gyda Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, gan amlygu cyfleoedd i gymryd rhan. Yn dilyn y gweithdy Hapus yn gynt y mis hwn, edrychwn ymlaen at gydweithio gyda Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wrth iddyn nhw gynllunio cyfres o ddigwyddiadau cymunedol ledled Cymru, gwefan ac adnoddau newydd.
Gyda dyddiad cau ar gyfer ymateb i Strategaeth Iechyd Meddwl ddrafft Llywodraeth Cymru ar y gorwel ar 11 Mehefin, hoffem annog holl aelodau WAHWN i gyflwyno ymateb. Byddwn yn cyflwyno ymateb yn eiriol ymhellach dros y celfyddydau a chreadigrwydd yn y strategaeth a byddwn yn rhannu hwn gydag aelodau fis nesaf i’ch cynorthwyo i ddrafftio eich ymateb chi. Gallwch weld dogfennau ymgynghori Llywodraeth Cymru yma.
Rydym ni’n falch i allu cyflwyno mwy o fwrsariaethau Mynd i Weld eleni (hyd at £200). Yn y cylch hwn, caiff canran o’r bwrsariaethau eu neilltuo i ymarferwyr Cymraeg eu hiaith, mwyafrif byd-eang a Byddar/Anabl, sydd heb gael eu cynrychioli’n ddigonol mewn ceisiadau hyd yma. Anogwn aelodau i ymgeisio am y swm sydd ei angen yn unig er mwyn sicrhau bod y cyllid yn cael ei ddosbarthu’n deg. Mae deiliaid grant blaenorol wedi dilyn cwrs byr Cyflwyniad i'r Celfyddydau ac Iechyd Prifysgol Glyndŵr Wrecsam, mynd ar ymweliadau diwylliannol a dysgu sgiliau creadigol newydd. Ceir rhagor o wybodaeth a gallwch ymgeisio yma.
Y dyddiad cau nesaf ar gyfer cyllid Loteri Iechyd a Llesiant CCC yw dydd Mercher 22 Mai. I unrhyw un sy’n newydd i’r cyllid hwn, y nod yw cefnogi partneriaethau ar draws sectorau’r celfyddydau, iechyd, gofal cymdeithasol a’r trydydd sector i ddarparu prosiectau creadigol ansawdd uchel sy’n cyflenwi buddion iechyd a llesiant. Ceir lefelau a ffrydiau cyllido gwahanol, gan ddechrau gyda hyd at £15k ar gyfer cam profi/gwaith paratoadol; buddsoddi hyd £35k; ehangu hyd at £50k, yn ogystal â hyfforddiant ar gyfer meysydd blaenoriaeth. Gwahoddir deiliaid y grantiau i fynychu grwpiau dysgu WAHWN bob pythefnos sy’n cynnig lle cefnogol i rannu heriau, gweithio drwyddynt gyda’i gilydd, yn ogystal â chlywed gan gyfranwyr allanol sy’n dod ag arbenigedd penodol mewn perthynas â gwerthuso, cyllido ac adrodd eich stori.
Edrychwn ymlaen at eich croesawu yn un o’n digwyddiadau arfaethedig niferus
Ymlaen!
Angela Rogers
