Director's Blog - April 2025 | Blog y Cyfarwyddwr - Mis April 2025
24/04/2025 | Author: Angela Rogers
Director's Blog - April 2025
Dear Members
The BIG news this month is that WEAVE – our national arts and health conference in partnership with BCUHB and Wrexham University is about to open for booking! On 8th and 9th September we look forward to welcoming up to 150 delegates to Wrexham for two inspiring days of panels, breakouts, workshops, performances and keynotes. Our 2023 conference sold out within days, so early booking is highly recommended.
“We are pleased to partner with WAHWN for this second Weave conference, which is a great opportunity for the arts and health community to come together to see, hear, learn and share a range of projects happening across the country, and to continue to shape the direction of the sector for the future.”
(Dyfed Edwards, Chair, BCUHB)
We are grateful for Arts Council of Wales funding and delighted to have Public Health Wales on board as our conference sponsor, alongside investment from Arts & Business Cymru CultureStep.
“Public Health Wales is delighted to be sponsoring this year's Weave conference, celebrating and developing arts and health activity in Wales. There is a wealth of evidence supporting the benefits that creativity brings for our health and wellbeing, whether it's engaging with our own creativity or enjoying that of others; so much so that arts and creativity are one of the ways to better wellbeing promoted through our Hapus programme.”
(Emily Van de Venter, Public Health Wales)
We are thrilled to share that our very own Tracy Breathnach has won a Culture Health & Wellbeing Alliance 'Practising Well' award for our How Ya Doing? Artist wellbeing programme. How Ya Doing? has directly increased wellbeing for over 200 artists working in participatory settings across Wales. Over the past years this has been taken a step further to consider how arts organisations can change the culture around wellbeing, so that wellbeing is put at the centre of how they approach the work. Thanks to our exceptional How Ya Doing? delivery practitioners – Jain Boon, Alison O’Connor, Cai Tomos and Justine Wheatley, as well as our funders – Arts Council Wales and the Baring Foundation.
"I'm delighted to receive this award which acknowledges the Wales-wide work we have been doing on the How Ya Doing? programme since the pandemic. The impact of the work is largely down to the skills and expertise of the other freelance artists and trainers who delivered the different strands of the programme. Thanks to CHWA for valuing the role of Freelancers in the Creative Health sector through this award which featured really brilliant practitioners doing great work across the UK."
(Tracy Breathnach)
In other news, we are grateful for a 3.5% uplift in our ACW Multi Year Funding this year, which will enable us to deliver our core programme of sector support. We have also been successful in securing an International Opportunities Fund grant from Wales Arts International for ‘Neighbours’ - a collaboration with Realta, our sister arts and health body in Ireland supporting team WAHWN to join their Check Up Check In conference in May and enabling four Wales-based practitioners working in the field of creative ageing with Go and See bursaries, building on the Reaching Out to be Global creative ageing network meeting we hosted in partnership with Finland, England, Northern Ireland and Ireland. This coincides with the Baring Foundation’s Creative Ageing Directory, listing over 250 arts organisations delivering creative opportunities with older people which has just been published.
It’s fantastic to see a significant increase in sign-ups to our monthly network meetings, with over 400 attendances over the past year. Our May Network meeting, which takes place during Creativity and Wellbeing Week, we will welcome Sandy Clubb, Policy Officer, Wellbeing of Future Generations Office to share recommendations from the Future Generations report around Welsh language and culture, in relation to arts and health. This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and at an Action Summit on 29th April, Derek Walker, WFG Commissioner, will announce recommendations for public bodies, including the Welsh Government, to drive more transformational change using the Act. Understanding the role of arts in health and wellbeing has been driven by the Act, and we welcome the Commissioner’s call for a Culture Bill in Wales, to ensure long-term, sustainable support for the arts and cultural sector.
“With investment on the decline, there is an urgent need now for a long-term vision to be created to ensure sustainable support for the sector. We have incredible projects that take place across Wales, and we need to proactively ensure these opportunities are not only protected, but also enhanced for everyone, regardless of where you live.”
(Derek Walker)
Jen Angharad, CEO of Artis Community has highlighted “Art might not be seen to be immediately saving lives, but evidence shows it can play a big part in enhancing wellbeing and in the prevention of ill health.”
Backed by 95 senior health leaders, the Welsh NHS Confederation’s recent report puts forward five significant changes the next Welsh Government must make to build the health and wellbeing of the nation. Priority 1 is prevention and a call for a cross-government national strategy to improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities, moving from simply treating illness to supporting people to be active partners in their own health and wellbeing. Sue O’Leary, Executive Director Mind Cymru & Social Impact, commenting on a recent King’s Fund blog realising the three shifts: preventing more people from reaching crisis point will be one measure of success. The King's Fund, highlights how “all of the evidence points in the same direction, a focus on prevention and early intervention.”
There are so many examples of how our sector’s work is delivering of key health and wellbeing priorities in Wales. Check out new case studies on the WAHWN site, including HDUHB’s Gypsy Roma Traveller project tackling health inequalities, and Conwy CBC’s TAITH culture and mental wellbeing project where participants co-produced a resource challenging stigma around accessing mental health support. In May we look forward to welcoming a wide range of new arts and health partnerships to our learning groups, including Gwella working with Adferiad in Port Talbot supporting men’s mental health after the Tata Steel closure; Denbighshire Leisure’s Refugee and Asylum Seeker project and Menomove – a perimenopause partnership between The Body Hotel and Velindre NHS Trust. The next deadline for the ACW Arts Health & Wellbeing Lottery fund supporting arts and health partnerships is 28th May.
In other developments, it's great to see that the National Centre for Creative Health will guest edit a special issue of the Royal Society for Public Health’s peer-reviewed journal Perspectives in Public Health, focused on The Role of Creative Health in Public Health. This special issue will platform current practice and research which demonstrates the value of collaboration between creative health and public health by sharing work that supports the health of individuals and communities through policymaking, research, and preventative measures. Submissions from around the world are sought, and priority given to those that focus upon health inequalities. For more information here. Deadline 1st September.
If you’re looking for some reading material over the coming weeks, check out new research from Jameel Arts & Health Lab ‘Developing a strategy to scale up place-based arts initiatives that support mental health and wellbeing: A realist evaluation of ‘Arts for the Blues’
And finally, I’d like to leave you with ‘Night Beside a Stream in Mid Wales (Sleep Safe)’ recording from Radio Lento Podcast series.
Onwards and upwards!
Angela
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Annwyl Aelodau
Y newyddion MAWR y mis hwn yw bod GWEHYDDU – ein cynhadledd genedlaethol ar y celfyddydau ac iechyd mewn partneriaeth gyda BIPBC a Phrifysgol Wrecsam ar fin agor / bellach wedi agor i chi gael archebu eich lle! Ar 8 a 9 Medi rydyn ni’n edrych ymlaen at groesawu hyd at 150 o gynrychiolwyr i Wrecsam ar gyfer dau ddiwrnod ysbrydoledig o baneli, sgyrsiau, gweithdai, perfformiadau a phrif areithiau. Gwerthwyd pob tocyn ar gyfer cynhadledd 2023 o fewn dyddiau, felly argymhellir eich bod yn archebu’n gynnar.
“Rydyn ni’n falch i fod yn bartner i WAHWN ar gyfer ail gynhadledd Gwehyddu, sy’n gyfle gwych i’r gymuned celfyddydau ac iechyd ddod ynghyd i weld, clywed, dysgu a rhannu amrywiaeth o brosiectau sydd ar waith ledled y wlad, a pharhau i ffurfio cyfeiriad y sector ar gyfer y dyfodol.”
(Dyfed Edwards, Cadeirydd BIPBC)
Rydyn ni’n ddiolchgar i Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru am y cyllid ac wrth ein bodd fod Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn noddi’r gynhadledd, ochr yn ochr â buddsoddiad gan Celfyddydau a Busnes Cymru CultureStep.
“Mae Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru yn falch iawn i fod yn noddi cynhadledd Gwehyddu eleni, sy’n dathlu ac yn datblygu gweithgarwch yn y celfyddydau ac iechyd yng Nghymru. Ceir cyfoeth o dystiolaeth i gefnogi’r buddion o ran iechyd a llesiant yn sgil creadigrwydd, boed hynny’n golygu defnyddio ein creadigrwydd ein hunain neu fwynhau creadigrwydd pobl eraill; sy’n golygu mai’r celfyddydau a chreadigrwydd yw un o’r ffyrdd o gyflawni gwell llesiant sy’n cael ei hyrwyddo drwy raglen Hapus.”
(Emily Van de Venter, Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru)
Rydyn ni wrth ein bodd i gael rhannu’r newyddion fod Tracy Breathnach wedi ennill gwobr 'Practising Well' y Cynghrair Diwylliant Iechyd a Llesiant (CHWA) am y rhaglen llesiant artistiaid Sut Mae’n Mynd? Mae Sut Mae’n Mynd? wedi gwella llesiant dros 200 o artistiaid sy’n gweithio mewn lleoliadau cyfranogol ledled Cymru’n uniongyrchol. Dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf aed â hyn gam ymhellach i ystyried sut y gall sefydliadau celfyddydol newid diwylliant llesiant, fel bod llesiant yn cael ei osod yn ganolog yn eu ffordd o weithio. Diolch i gyflwynwyr rhagorol Sut Mae’n Mynd? – Jain Boon, Alison O’Connor, Cai Tomos a Justine Wheatley, yn ogystal â’r cyllidwyr – Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru a Sefydliad Baring.
"Dwi wrth fy modd yn derbyn y wobr hon sy’n cydnabod y gwaith rydyn ni wedi bod yn ei wneud ledled Cymru ar raglen Sut Mae’n Mynd? ers y pandemig. Mae effaith y gwaith yn ddyledus i sgiliau ac arbenigedd yr artistiaid a’r hyfforddwyr llawrydd eraill a fu’n cyflwyno gwahanol elfennau o’r rhaglen. Diolch i CHWA am weld gwerth rôl gweithwyr llawrydd yn y sector Iechyd Creadigol drwy’r wobr hon oedd yn cynnwys ymarferwyr rhagorol yn gwneud gwaith gwych ledled y DU."
(Tracy Breathnach)
Mewn newyddion arall, rydyn ni’n ddiolchgar am y codiad o 3.5% yn ein Cyllid Amlflwyddyn gan CCC eleni, fydd yn ein galluogi i gyflwyno ein rhaglen graidd o gymorth i’r sector. Rydyn ni hefyd wedi llwyddo i sicrhau grant gan y Gronfa Cyfleoedd Rhyngwladol gan Celfyddydau Rhyngwladol Cymru ar gyfer ‘Cymdogion’ – gwaith ar y cyd â Realta, ein chwaer gorff celfyddydau ac iechyd yn Iwerddon, i gefnogi tîm WAHWN i ymuno â chynhadledd Check Up Check In ym mis Mai a galluogi pedwar o ymarferwyr o Gymru ym maes heneiddio creadigol gyda Bwrsariaethau Mynd i Weld, gan adeiladu ar y cyfarfod rhwydwaith heneiddio creadigol Estyn Allan i fod yn Fyd-eang a drefnwyd mewn partneriaeth gyda’r Ffindir, Lloegr, Gogledd Iwerddon ac Iwerddon. Mae hyn yn cyd-fynd â Chyfeiriadur Heneiddio Creadigol Sefydliad Baring sydd newydd ei gyhoeddi ac sy’n rhestru dros 250 o sefydliadau celfyddydol sy’n cyflwyno cyfleoedd creadigol i bobl hŷn.
Mae’n wych gweld cynnydd sylweddol yn y cofrestriadau i’r cyfarfodydd rhwydwaith misol, gyda thros 400 yn mynychu dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Yn ein cyfarfod Rhwydwaith ym mis Mai, a gynhelir yn ystod Wythnos Creadigrwydd a Llesiant, byddwn yn croesawu Sandy Clubb, Swyddog Polisi yn Swyddfa Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol, i rannu argymhellion adroddiad Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol ynghylch yr iaith a diwylliant Cymraeg mewn perthynas â’r celfyddydau ac iechyd. Cofrestrwch yma. Y mis hwn yw dengmlwyddiant Deddf Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol, ac mewn Uwchgynhadledd Weithredu ar 29 Ebrill, bydd Derek Walker, Comisiynydd Llesiant Cenedlaethau’r Dyfodol, yn cyhoeddi argymhellion i gyrff cyhoeddus, gan gynnwys Llywodraeth Cymru, er mwyn ysgogi newid mwy trawsnewidiol yn defnyddio’r Ddeddf. Mae’r Ddeddf wedi hybu dealltwriaeth o rôl y celfyddydau mewn iechyd a llesiant, ac rydyn ni’n croesawu galwad y Comisiynydd am Ddeddf Diwyllant yng Nghymru, er mwyn sicrhau cefnogaeth hirdymor a chynaliadwy i sector y celfyddydau a diwylliant.
“Gyda buddsoddi ar drai, mae angen brys nawr i greu gweledigaeth hirdymor i sicrhau cymorth cynaliadwy i’r sector. Mae gennym ni brosiectau anhygoel ar waith ledled Cymru, ac mae angen i ni fynd ati i sicrhau bod y cyfleoedd hyn nid yn unig yn cael eu diogelu, ond hefyd eu cyfoethogi i bawb, ble bynnag rydych chi’n byw.”
(Derek Walker)
Pwysleisiodd Jen Angharad, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Artis Community “Efallai nad yw’r celfyddydau yn cael eu gweld fel rhywbeth sy’n achub bywydau yn syth, ond mae tystiolaeth yn dangos y gallant chwarae rhan fawr yn cyfoethogi llesiant ac atal afiechyd.”
Gyda chefnogaeth 95 o uwch arweinwyr iechyd, mae adroddiad diweddar Conffederasiwn GIG Cymru yn cyflwyno pum newid sylweddol sy’n rhaid i Lywodraeth nesaf Cymru eu gwneud i wella iechyd a llesiant y genedl. Blaenoriaeth 1 yw atal, a galwad am strategaeth genedlaethol draws-lywodraethol i wella iechyd a llesiant a lleihau anghydraddoldebau, gan symud o drin salwch yn unig i gynorthwyo pobl i fod yn bartneriaid gweithredol yn eu hiechyd a’u llesiant eu hunain. Wrth wneud sylw ar flog diweddar y Kings Fund Realising the three shifts: preventing more people from reaching crisis point will be one measure of success The King's Fund, mae Sue O’Leary, Cyfarwyddwr Gweithredol Mind Cymru ac Effaith Gymdeithasol yn pwysleisio bod “yr holl dystiolaeth yn pwyntio i’r un cyfeiriad, pwyslais ar atal ac ymyrraeth gynnar.”
Mae cymaint o enghreifftiau rhagorol o’r ffordd y mae gwaith y sector yn cyflawni blaenoriethau allweddol ym maes iechyd a llesiant yng Nghymru. Edrychwch ar yr astudiaethau achos newydd ar safle WAHWN, gan gynnwys Prosiect Teithwyr Sipsi Roma sy’n mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd, a phrosiect diwylliant a llesiant meddwl CBC Conwy TAITH, lle cyd-greodd y cyfranogwyr adnodd sy’n herio stigma ynghylch defnyddio cymorth iechyd meddwl. Ym mis Mai rydyn ni’n edrych ymlaen at groesawu amrywiaeth eang o bartneriaethau celfyddydau ac iechyd newydd i’r grwpiau dysgu, gan gynnwys Gwella yn gweithio gydag Adferiad ym Mhort Talbot i gefnogi iechyd meddwl dynion ar ôl cau gwaith dur Tata; prosiect Ffoaduriaid a Cheiswyr Lloches Hamdden Sir Ddinbych a Menomove – partneriaeth perimenopos rhwng The Body Hotel ac Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Felindre. Dyddiad cau nesaf cronfa Loteri'r Celfyddydau, Iechyd a Lles CCC sy’n cefnogi partneriaethau celfyddydau ac iechyd yw 28 Mai.
Mewn datblygiadau eraill, mae’n wych gweld y bydd y Ganolfan Genedlaethol ar gyfer Iechyd Creadigol yn golygu rhifyn arbennig o gyfnodolyn y Gymdeithas Iechyd Cyhoeddus Frenhinol a adolygir gan gymheiriaid, Perspectives in Public Health, yn canolbwyntio ar Rôl Iechyd Creadigol mewn Iechyd Cyhoeddus. Bydd y rhifyn arbennig yn tynnu sylw at arfer cyfredol ac ymchwil sy’n dangos gwerth cydweithio rhwng iechyd creadigol ac iechyd cyhoeddus drwy rannu gwaith sy’n cefnogi iechyd unigolion a chymunedau drwy lunio polisïau, ymchwil a mesurau ataliol. Gwahoddir cyflwyniadau o bedwar ban byd, gyda blaenoriaeth i’r rheini sy’n canolbwyntio ar anghydraddoldebau iechyd. I gael rhagor o wybodaeth ewch i: https://lnkd.in/eCCrg3B3 Dyddiad cau: 1 Medi.
Os ydych chi’n edrych am ddeunydd darllen dros yr wythnosau nesaf, mae’n werth edrych ar ymchwil newydd gan Jameel Arts & Health Lab ‘Developing a strategy to scale up place-based arts initiatives that support mental health and wellbeing: A realist evaluation of ‘Arts for the Blues’
Ac yn olaf hoffwn eich gadael gyda recordiad ‘Night Beside a Stream in Mid Wales (Sleep Safe)’ o gyfres Podlediadau Radio Lento.
Ymlaen!
Angela
