Director's Blog - September 2025 | Blog y Cyfarwyddwr - Mis Medi 2025
23/09/2025 | Author: Angela Rogers
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Dear members and supporters,
After two inspiring days in Wrexham, I’m still riding the positive wave of Weave | Gwehyddu - our national biennial arts and health conference - 320 delegates; 60 contributors; 12 breakout sessions; 4 keynote speakers and 2 panels.
The generous and positive feedback has been humbling - thank you to everyone who joined us, contributed, and helped shape such a rich, welcoming and inspiring space for celebration, connection and learning. Weave reminded us why this work matters; the opportunities ahead and how much further we can go when we move together. It’s been a privilege working alongside our team WAHWN and freelance Conference Programmer, Tracy Breathnach to bring our vision to life.
“This year's Weave conference was a triumph of programming and organisation - thank you so much for the energy, vision and innovation that you brought to the last 2 days” (delegate)
We came away not just inspired, but armed with calls to action, new opportunities, and practical ideas to embed creativity more deeply in health and social care. Heledd Fychan, MS urged us, at this critical time, to share our work with 2026 Senedd election candidates. We all have a role to play in promoting the vital role of the arts within our regions.
We are committed to carrying this energy forward - supporting the sector to act on what emerged, honouring the stories shared, and ensuring that the legacy of Weave continues to ripple outward.
Sadly I couldn’t attend all breakout sessions but stand out moments for me include spoken word artist - Duke Al’s passionate keynote speech; Moving performances by the fantastic Choirs For Good; our phenomenal artist in residence Mr Phormula’s closing remarks rap; Sir Michael Marmot’s interview and the truly moving MonologAYE GIG celebrating the strength and dedication of NHS staff. We look forward to sharing a playlist of the recordings soon.
Feedback from all 12 of the breakout sessions has been outstanding. You can read Rosie Dow’s blog here reflecting on the policy focused session which used the WAHWN manifesto as its starting point, and Tracy Breathnach’s blog on practitioner wellbeing. It was good to hear about other artist’s wellbeing programmes in Wales including the CULT Cymru Wellbeing Facilitator training programme, which has seen Wellbeing Facilitators working in a more consistent way across theatre, film and tv productions and Thania Acaron’s The Body Hotel leading delegates in a gentle movement workshop.
We also look forward to sharing a Young People’s arts and health manifesto prompted by Rachel Byron, and developing opportunities with 19 Hills CIC who have recently issued a Crowd funding call to develop an arts and wellbeing space in Newport.
“There are huge opportunities to develop and stimulate chances for people to create, perform and find space for reflection, which we heard are too often missed by NHS services either out of lack of awareness, credibility, community links or funding” (Dr Jonny Currie, NHS GP, co-founder 19 Hills CIC)
I am also delighted to share that our special Weave celebrity - Sion Telor - therapy Collie dog who supports Dance for Parkinson’s participants - has won the BBC Cymru Making a Difference Award. Congratulations Sion! Thank you Mared Huws for bringing Sion along and for the joy he bought.
Alongside the joy of the conference, there is also sadness. We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Lord Howarth of Newport recently, a tireless champion of arts and health. His visionary leadership helped shape the creative health movement over decades, from his time as Minister for the Arts to his role as founding Chair and later President of the National Centre for Creative Health. Lord Howarth’s unwavering belief in the power of creativity to transform lives leaves a profound legacy—one that continues to inspire our work across Wales and beyond. Alex Coulter, Director of NCCH’s shares her personal memories of Lord Howarth here.
Portrait courtesy of UK Parliament, licensed under CC BY 3.0.
WAHWN is once again delighted to join forces with our sister organisations across the UK and Ireland through a second State of the Sector Survey for Creative Health. Please can we ask you to complete this and share with your colleagues far and wide to help us better advocate for your priorities. The deadline is 31st October, and it takes around 30 minutes to complete.
As well as reflecting on Weave this month, we are also pleased to share new resources, training and networking opportunities. We look forward to hosting a session for freelancers to learn all about free support and mentoring available from Social Firms Wales to help successfully build creative businesses and contributing to the Most Significant Change event on 2nd October, where you can learn more about this learning-focused evaluation approach and the variety of ways to gather and present stories that draw on the creative arts. Our October Network Meeting will focus on creative practice and ‘telling your story’.
Our final How Ya Doing? evaluation report by Jane Willis has now been published to our Knowledge Bank. You can hear Tracy Breathnach’s conversation with Alison O’Connor here, reflecting on the programme too and read her blog.
“It’s been so satisfying to work on a project over many years and to see how it develops from an initial idea to a national programme that has the potential to change the way we care for ourselves and others. The most important aspect for me has been asking and listening to what artists want, and working in a collaborative way with our amazing team of freelance artists and trainers to design programmes and courses that respond to the need in the sector.” (Tracy Breathnach)
Included in Jane’s recommendations is the need to advocate to funders and organisational leaders for the strategic value of artist wellbeing and reflective practice.
“HYD#2 demonstrated that with the right support, creative practitioners and organisations can develop meaningful, sustainable approaches to wellbeing. The programme has laid the foundations for a growing movement that integrates care, reflection, and resilience into the fabric of cultural practice in Wales” (Jane Willis)
Although WAHWN does not plan a continuation of this programme at this time, we would recommend Alison O’Connor’s upcoming Reflective Practice training.
Another key evaluation report this month is the Baring Foundation’s latest evaluation on their arts and mental health programme 2020-2025 by Thinking Practice. They have also shared a call out commissioning a 5-10,000 word report in response to arts organisations struggling to match need with demand. Deadline 31st October.
This is an exciting time for our sector as we continue to build momentum. I look forward to connecting with you again soon.
Onwards and upwards!
Angela
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Annwyl aelodau a chefnogwyr,
Yn dilyn dau ddiwrnod o ysbrydoliaeth yn Wrecsam, dwi’n dal i fod yn hwylio’r don gadarnhaol yn dilyn Gwehyddu – ein cynhadledd celfyddydau ac iechyd a gynhelir bob dwy flynedd - 320 o gynrychiolwyr; 60 o gyfranwyr; 12 sesiwn drafod; 4 prif siaradwr a 2 banel.
Mae’r adborth hael a chadarnhaol wedi bod yn drawiadol – diolch i bawb a ymunodd â ni, a gyfrannodd, ac a helpodd i ffurfio gofod mor gyfoethog, croesawgar ac ysbrydoledig ar gyfer dathlu, cysylltu a dysgu. Mae Gwehyddu yn ein hatgoffa ni pam fod y gwaith hwn yn bwysig; y cyfleoedd o’n blaenau a faint pellach y gallwn ni fynd pan fyddwn ni’n symud gyda’n gilydd. Bu’n fraint cael gweithio ochr yn ochr â thîm WAHWN a Rhaglennydd llawrydd y Gynhadledd, Tracy Breathnach i wireddu’r weledigaeth.
“Roedd cynhadledd Gwehyddu eleni’n gampwaith o raglennu a threfnu - diolch cymaint am yr egni, y weledigaeth a’r arloesi a gafwyd dros y deuddydd diwethaf” (cynrychiolydd)
Gadawon ni’r gynhadledd nid yn unig wedi’n hysbrydoli, ond wedi’n harfogi gyda galwadau i weithredu, cyfleoedd newydd, a syniadau ymarferol i wreiddio creadigrwydd yn ddyfnach mewn iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol. Anogodd Heledd Fychan, AS ni, yn y cyfnod hanfodol hwn, i rannu ein gwaith gydag ymgeiswyr etholiad y Senedd 2026. Mae gan bob un ohonom ni rôl i’w chwarae yn hyrwyddo rôl hanfodol y celfyddydau yn ein rhanbarthau.
Rydyn ni’n ymrwymo i ddwyn yr egni hwn ymlaen - drwy gefnogi’r sector i weithredu ar yr hyn a ddaeth i’r golwg, anrhydeddu’r straeon a rannwyd a sicrhau bod gwaddol Gwehyddu’n parhau i dreiddio allan.
Yn anffodus doedd hi ddim yn bosib i mi fynd i bob un o’r sesiynau trafod ond ymhlith yr uchafbwyntiau i mi oedd araith angerddol yr artist geiriau llafar Duke Al; perfformiadau teimladwy’r hyfryd Choirs For Good; rap yr artist preswyl rhyfeddol Mr Phormula wrth gloi’r digwyddiad; cyfweliad Syr Michael Marmot a’r MonologAYE GIG gwirioneddol deimladwy’n dathlu cryfder ac ymroddiad staff y GIG. Edrychwn ymlaen at rannu’r recordiadau gyda chi’n fuan.
Bu’r adborth o bob un o’r 12 sesiwn drafod yn rhagorol. Gallwch ddarllen blog Rosie Dow yma yn myfyrio ar y sesiwn oedd yn canolbwyntio ar bolisi gan ddefnyddio maniffesto WAHWN fel man cychwyn, a blog Tracy Breathnach ar lesiant ymarferwyr. Roedd yn dda clywed am raglenni llesiant artistiaid eraill yng Nghymru gan gynnwys rhaglen hyfforddi Hwyluswyr Llesiant CULT Cymru sydd wedi arwain at Hwyluswyr Llesiant yn gweithio mewn ffordd fwy cyson ar draws cynyrchiadau theatr, ffilm a theledu a The Body Hotel Thania Acaron a fu’n arwain cynrychiolwyr mewn gweithdy symud ysgafn.
Rydyn ni’n edrych ymlaen hefyd at rannu maniffesto celfyddydau ac iechyd Pobl Ifanc a ysgogwyd gan Rachel Byron, a datblygu cyfleoedd gyda 19 Hills CIC sydd wedi cyhoeddi galwad am gyllido torfol yn ddiweddar i ddatblygu lle ar gyfer celfyddydau ac iechyd yng Nghasnewydd.
“Mae llu o gyfleoedd i ddatblygu a hybu cyfleoedd i bobl ifanc allu creu, perfformio a dod o hyd i le ar gyfer myfyrio, ond clywom eu bod yn cael eu colli’n rhy aml gan wasanaethau’r GIG naill ai oherwydd diffyg ymwybyddiaeth, hygrededd, cysylltiadau cymunedol neu gyllid” (Dr Jonny Currie, Meddyg Teulu’r GIG, cyd-sylfaenydd 19 Hills CIC)
Dwi hefyd wrth fy modd i rannu bod seren arbennig Gwehyddu - Siôn Telor – ci defaid therapi sy’n cefnogi cyfranogwyr Dance for Parkinson’s – wedi ennill Gwobr Gwneud Gwahaniaeth BBC Cymru. Llongyfarchiadau Siôn! Diolch i Mared Huws am ddod â Siôn gyda hi ac am y llawenydd a ddaeth yn ei sgil. Gallwch ddilyn Siôn ar Instagram!
Ochr yn ochr â llawenydd y gynhadledd, mae tristwch hefyd. Roedd yn drist iawn clywed am farwolaeth ddiweddar yr Arglwydd Howarth o Gasnewydd, hyrwyddwr diflino ym maes y celfyddydau ac iechyd. Helpodd ei arweiniad a’i weledigaeth i ffurfio’r mudiad iechyd creadigol dros ddegawdau, o’i gyfnod yn Weinidog y Celfyddydau i’w rôl yn Gadeirydd sefydlu ac yn ddiweddarach yn Llywydd y Ganolfan Iechyd Creadigol Genedlaethol. Mae cred ddiysgog yr Arglwydd Howarth yng ngrym creadigrwydd i drawsnewid bywydau’n waddol gwerthfawr - un sy’n parhau i ysbrydoli ein gwaith ledled Cymru a thu hwnt. Mae Alex Coulter, Cyfarwyddwr y Ganolfan Iechyd Creadigol Genedlaethol yn rhannu ei hatgofion personol o’r Arglwydd Howarth yma.
Unwaith eto mae WAHWN yn hapus iawn i ymuno â’n chwaer-sefydliadau ledled y DU ac Iwerddon yn ail Arolwg Cyflwr y Sector o Iechyd Creadigol: Iechyd Creadigol. Gofynnwn i chi ei gwblhau a’i rannu gyda’ch cydweithwyr pell ac agos i’n helpu i eiriol yn well dros eich blaenoriaethau chi. Y dyddiad cau yw 31 Hydref, ac mae’n cymryd tua 30 munud i’w gwblhau.
Yn ogystal ag edrych yn ôl ar Gwehyddu y mis hwn, rydyn ni hefyd yn falch i gael rhannu adnoddau, hyfforddiant a chyfleoedd rhwydweithio newydd. Rydyn ni’n edrych ymlaen at gynnal sesiwn lle gall gweithwyr llawrydd ddysgu am y cymorth a’r mentora sydd ar gael am ddim gan Cwmnïau Cymdeithasol Cymru i helpu i adeiladu busnesau creadigol yn llwyddiannus a chyfrannu at y digwyddiad Newid Mwyaf Arwyddocaol ar 2 Hydref, lle gallwch glywed mwy am y dull gwerthuso hwn sy’n canolbwyntio ar ddysgu a’r ffyrdd amrywiol o gasglu a chyflwyno straeon sy’n tynnu ar y celfyddydau creadigol. Bydd Cyfarfod Rhwydwaith mis Hydref yn canolbwyntio ar ymarfer creadigol a ‘dweud eich stori’.
Mae adroddiad gwerthuso terfynol Sut Mae’n Mynd? gan Jane Willis bellach wedi’i gyhoeddi yn ein Banc Gwybodaeth. Gallwch glywed sgwrs Tracy Breathnach gydag Alison O’Connor yma, yn myfyrio ar y rhaglen hefyd, a darllen ei blog.
“Mae wedi bod yn mor foddhaus cael gweithio ar brosiect dros nifer o flynyddoedd a’i weld yn datblygu o’r syniad gwreiddiol i fod yn rhaglen genedlaethol sydd â’r potensial i newid y ffordd rydyn ni’n gofalu amdanom ni’n hunain a phobl eraill. Yr elfen bwysicaf i fi oedd holi a gwrando ar beth mae artistiaid yn ei ddymuno, a chydweithio gyda’n tîm rhyfeddol o artistiaid a hyfforddwyr llawrydd i gynllunio rhaglenni a chyrsiau sy’n ymateb i’r angen yn y sector.” (Tracy Breathnach)
Un rhan o argymhellion Jane yw’r angen i eiriol dros werth strategol llesiant artistiaid ac ymarfer myfyriol i gyllidwyr ac arweinwyr sefydliadol.
“Dangosodd SMM#2 bod ymarferwyr a sefydliadau creadigol yn gallu datblygu agweddau ystyrlon, cynaliadwy at lesiant, o gael y cymorth cywir. Mae’r rhaglen wedi gosod y sylfaeni ar gyfer mudiad sy’n tyfu ac sy’n integreiddio gofal, myfyrio a gwydnwch yng ngwead ymarfer creadigol yng Nghymru” (Jane Willis)
Er nad oes gan WAHWN gynlluniau i barhau â’r rhaglen ar hyn o bryd, byddem yn argymell hyfforddiant arfaethedig Alison O’Connor ar Ymarfer Myfyriol.
Adroddiad gwerthuso allweddol arall y mis hwn yw gwerthusiad diweddaraf Sefydliad Baring o’u rhaglen celfyddydau ac iechyd meddwl 2020-2025 gan Thinking Practice. Maen nhw hefyd wedi rhannu galwad ar gyfer comisiynu adroddiad 5-10,000 o eiriau mewn ymateb i sefydliadau celfyddydol sy’n ei chael yn anodd cydweddu angen â galw. Dyddiad cau: 31 Hydref.
Mae hwn yn gyfnod cyffrous i’r sector wrth i ni barhau i adeiladu momentwm. Dwi’n edrych ymlaen at gysylltu â chi eto’n fuan.
Ymlaen!
Angela
