Weave | Gwehyddu Arts & Mental Health Conference
Wales Arts, Health and Wellbeing Network launched the nation’s first arts and health conference in autumn 2023.
Weave took place on 4 October 2023 at Newport’s Lysaght Institute. It focused on the positive impact of the arts and creativity on Wales’ mental health and wellbeing.
The free event was designed to build on the country’s pioneering arts and health partnerships, progress and successes in recent years – including the six-year-old MoU between the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh NHS Confederation.
Unravelling the details
Among the confirmed key speakers were:
· Lynne Neagle, Deputy Minister of Mental Health and Wellbeing
· Derek Walker, the Wellbeing and Future Generations Commissioner
· Nina Ruddle, Head of Public Policy Engagement at Wrexham Glyndŵr University
· Peter Carr, Executive Director of Therapies and Health Science at Aneurin Bevan Health Board.
Breakout sessions spotlit various creative health projects taking place across Wales, such as those supporting veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and Welsh language creative workshops for people affected by addiction.
There was also a networking space to meet and connect with colleagues from across Wales, as well as some indoor and outdoor creative activities to support delegates' own wellbeing on the day.
The Weave conference marked a new milestone in efforts to embed arts and creativity in Wales’ health and care approaches.
As it was an in-person event, tickets for Weave were limited.
You can now view the main room panel discussions here on our YouTube playlist.
