WAHWN News

New phase of creative wellbeing programme for Wales’ artists launches

Wales’ artists working with people experiencing mental health problems can access free creative reflective practice sessions to support their own wellbeing as part of a new phase of support from Wales Arts Health and Wellbeing Network’s ‘How Ya Doing?’ programme, funded by the Baring Foundation

Artists Alison O’Connor, Jain Boon and Cai Tomos, are delivering the creative reflective practice programme for peers across Wales.

Jain, a theatre-maker and somatic experiencing practitioner, will join Alison, an integrative therapist and clinical supervisor with 25 years of experience. They’ll offer a set of creative somatic exercises to tend to and support artists’ nervous system and offer a series of exercises, inviting them to reflect on their work and wellbeing through a compassionate lens.

Meanwhile, Cai will offer one-to-one online sessions to Welsh speaking artists who would like support to reflect on their practice and the impact of their clients and context or organisation on what they do and how they do it, using a psychotherapeutic and trauma-informed supportive framework.

Freelance creatives can sign up for this very low-cost opportunity and once they have completed the initial courses, they can continue access a monthly drop-in session to maintain this support.

The programme is in line with what colleagues in England (Arts and Health Hub) and Ireland (Minding Creative Minds) are doing to support freelance artists’ mental and emotional wellbeing. we're delighted to once again be working with arts and health expert Jane Willis, to embed creative evaluation throughout this programme.

“It’s been a difficult few years for freelance artists in Wales and beyond, with the financial, physical and emotional impacts of the pandemic having been compounded by rising costs,” said Angela Rogers. “We’re delighted to have such stellar professionals like Cai, Jain and Alison involved in this new phase of work and to be working again with arts and health expert Jane Willis to embed creative evaluation throughout this programme.

“Being a freelance artist can be wonderful but it can also be lonely, particularly when you’re working in mental health settings or with people experiencing mental health problems. So many artists said they gained something valuable from the pilot programme so, we’re thrilled to be able to offer another two years of new and innovative creative wellbeing options to build on that support.”

Jain, Alison and Cai are delivering one strand of the two-year, Baring Foundation-supported programme. How Ya Doing? aims to build on a successful pilot phase in 2021-2022 funded by Arts Council Wales, when freelance artists accessed a range of free support for their emotional and mental wellbeing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest phase will not only support individual freelance artists but also the wider infrastructure by supporting arts organisations to develop robust wellbeing strategies and plans.

“Our intention [with this programme] is to create a safe, confidential space in which artists can reflect on the work that they do,” said Jain. “Previous participants have said that their creative reflective practice sessions have been permission giving. A place of acceptance and a safe place to share. Individuals have noticed a softening of the body.”

You’ll find more information on these sessions, and booking info, on our Eventbrite site

Lansio cam newydd rhaglen llesiant creadigol ar gyfer artistiaid Cymru

Gall artistiaid o Gymru sy’n gweithio gyda phobl sy’n wynebu problemau iechyd meddwl gael mynediad at sesiynau ymarfer myfyriol creadigol, am ddim, i gefnogi eu llesiant eu hunain fel rhan o gam newydd o gefnogaeth gan raglen Rhwydwaith Iechyd a Llesiant Celfyddydau Cymru ‘Sut mae’n Mynd?’, sy’n cael ei chyllido gan Sefydliad Baring.

Mae’r artistiaid Alison O’Connor, Jain Boon a Cai Tomos yn cyflwyno’r rhaglen ymarfer myfyriol creadigol i gymheiriaid ledled Cymru.

Bydd Jain, gwneuthurwraig theatr ac ymarferydd profiadau somatig, yn ymuno ag Alison, therapydd integreiddiol a goruchwylydd clinigol â 25 mlynedd o brofiad. Byddant yn cynnig set o ymarferion somatig creadigol i gefnogi system nerfol artistiaid ac yn cynnig cyfres o ymarferion, a’u gwahodd i fyfyrio ar eu gwaith a’u llesiant drwy lens dosturiol.

Bydd Cai yn cynnig sesiynau un-i-un ar-lein i artistiaid sy'n siarad Cymraeg sydd eisiau cael cymorth i fyfyrio ar eu hymarfer ac effaith eu cleientiaid a’u cyd-destun neu sefydliad ar yr hyn maen nhw’n ei wneud a sut maen nhw’n ei wneud, drwy ddefnyddio fframwaith cefnogol seicotherapiwtig sydd wedi’i lywio gan drawma.

Gall gweithwyr llarwydd creadigol gofrestru ar gyfer y cyfle hwn, sy’n rhad iawn o ran cost, ac ar ôl iddynt gwblhau’r cyrsiau cychwynnol, gallant barhau i gael mynediad at sesiwn galw heibio misol er mwyn cynnal y cymorth hwn.

Mae’r rhaglen yn cyd-fynd â’r hyn y mae cydweithwyr yn Lloegr (Arts and Health Hub) ac Iwerddon (Minding Creative Minds) yn ei wneud i gefnogi llesiant meddyliol ac emosiynol artistiaid llawrydd. Rydyn ni’n falch iawn o fod yn gweithio unwaith eto gyda’r arbenigwraig celfyddydau ac iechyd Jane Willis, i ymwreiddio gwerthuso creadigol drwy gydol y rhaglen hon.

“Mae wedi bod yn anodd i artistiaid llawrydd yng Nghymru a thu hwnt yn ystod y blynyddoedd diwethaf, gydag effeithiau ariannol, corfforol ac emosiynol y pandemig wedi gwaethygu yn sgil costau cynyddol,” dywedodd Angela Rogers. “Rydyn ni mor falch o gael gweithwyr proffesiynol mor arbennig â Cai, Jain ac Alison yn rhan o’r cam newydd hwn o waith ac i fod yn gweithio gyda’r arbenigwraig celfyddydau ac iechyd Jane Willis i ymwreiddio gwerthuso creadigol drwy gydol y rhaglen hon.

“Gall bod yn artist llawrydd fod yn wych ond gall fod yn unig hefyd, yn enwedig pan rydych chi’n gweithio mewn lleoliad iechyd meddwl neu gyda phobl sy’n wynebu problemau iechyd meddwl. Dywedodd cynifer o artistiaid eu bod nhw wedi cael rhywbeth gwerthfawr o’r rhaglen beilot, felly rydyn ni wrth ein bodd yn gallu cynnig dwy flynedd arall o opsiynau llesiant creadigol newydd ac arloesol i adeiladu ar y cymorth hwnnw.”

Mae Jain, Alison a Cai yn cyflwyno un rhan o’r rhaglen dwy flynedd, sy’n cael ei chefnogi gan Sefydliad Baring. Nod ‘Sut mae’n Mynd?’ yw adeiladu ar lwyddiant cyfnod peilot llwyddiannus yn 2021-2022 a ariannwyd gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru, lle cafodd artistiaid llawrydd fynediad at ystod o gymorth am ddim ar gyfer eu llesiant emosiynol a meddyliol yn sgil pandemig COVID-19. Bydd y cam diweddaraf hwn nid yn unig yn cefnogi artistiaid llawrydd unigol ond y seilwaith ehangach hefyd drwy gefnogi mudiadau celfyddydol i ddatblygu strategaethau a chynlluniau llesiant cadarn.

“Ein nod [gyda’r rhaglen hon] yw creu gofod diogel, cyfrinachol lle gall artistiaid fyfyrio ar y gwaith maen nhw’n ei wneud,” dywedodd Jain. Mae cyn gyfranwyr wedi dweud bod eu sesiynau ymarfer myfyriol creadigol wedi rhoi caniatâd iddyn nhw. Lle sy’n derbyn a lle diogel i rannu. Mae unigolion wedi sylwi bod y corff yn meddalu.”

Cewch fwy o wybodaeth am y sesiynau hyn, a manylion ar sut i gadw eich lle, ar ein safle Eventbrite.