Sound Artist Vic McEwan has been in residence at Alder Hey over the last couple of weeks and I am thrilled at both his primary explorations and the way the community of the hospital have embraced him and all his ideas. I would very much like to share our plans for the next year, but that might be premature. Needless to say, the collaboration is proving fruitful and my personal thanks to Dr Jane Radcliffe and Vicky Charnock for making this all possible. Great things ahead. To find out a little more about Vic and catch up with his online diary, click on the hospital machinery above.
WEAPONS OF MASS HAPPINESS Embarking on some exciting new work in Manchester this last week, I was thrilled to meet new artists and like-minded free thinkers, and hope some of our aspirations come to fruition! It was great sharing my new work Weapons of Mass Happiness, (teaser above) which I’ll publish soon, but it’s made me revisit some earlier writing which I contributed to the exhibition, Mortality: Death and the Imagination curated with Dr Steven Gartside in 2013. So if you want to read my essay from the exhibition catalogue, please click on the Present Tense image below. Following an intense period of work, I’m shutting up shop for a couple of weeks and this blog will keep its door closed. Normal service will resume mid April.
Everyone has bad days on the job—a project that you put hours into bombs or a task you need to accomplish is difficult and stressful. But are some jobs harder overall on our mental health than others? Depression may be more likely to occur in some professions, research suggests. And according to a new study by researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, suicides in the workplace, while not commonplace, are on the rise. Their research, published in the March 16 online edition of the “American Journal of Preventive Medicine,” showed that 270 people committed suicide in the workplace in 2013, a 12% increase over 2012.
Men and those over 65 were more likely to commit suicide in the workplace than others. Law enforcement jobs -- police officers, firefighters, and detectives -- had the highest rate of workplace suicides with 5.3 suicides for every 1 million workers. Farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and forestry workers came in next with 5.1 suicides per one million. The authors also noted that minorities may be at a greater risk for workplace suicide compared to non-workplace suicides. Their research did not include military jobs.
This month’s “JAMA Psychiatry” also addressed the topic in a “Viewpoints” op-ed co-authored by two medical interns from New York who said that being a physician, especially a young intern, may leave some people vulnerable to mental illness and suicide. Doctors are twice as likely to kill themselves compared to non-physicians, and female doctors are three times more likely to do so than their male counterparts, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). According to AFSP, though, the workplace can be an ideal place for suicide prevention programs. Their Interactive Screening Program (ISP), for example, is an anonymous online survey that IDs at-risk people and connects them with support. The NFL and the Boston Police Department have used the program. The authors of the “Lancet Psychiatry” op-ed say some work programs, like one at the U.S. Air Force, have successfully addressed workplace depression and mental illness in a variety of ways. One initiative: The USAF designates certain supervisors as mental health “gatekeepers.” Their job is to identify at-risk employees and channel them to screening and mental health services.
Looking out from the back seat of a car as it enters a carwash tunnel. The windscreen and rear-view mirror are concentric frames within frames in this dark, constricted space. The sound, too, is oppressive: the pummel of water jets, the whir of the conveyor, the pulse of a man’s breathing. White soapsuds across the windscreen cut through the black, accentuating a partial reflection of the driver’s face in the mirror. “When you put these substances in your body… the animal part of your brain thinks it needs these substances to survive,” he says. “That’s what you’re up against … and it’s vicious.”
This is a scene from Melanie Manchot’s new multi-channel video installation, connecting remembered moments from the lives of 12 people in recent recovery from drug and alcohol misuse. Read more about 12 the collaboration between Portraits of Recovery and artist, Melanie Manchot in A.N
Space2Create in Kendal, is holding a new exhibition in its gallery based on themes of Stigma and creative wellbeing. See the flyer below.
BBC Children in Need Small Grants Programme Not for profit organisations such as such as registered charities; voluntary organisations; schools; churches; and community interest groups; etc. can apply for grants of up to £10,000 through the BBC Children in Need Small Grants programme. The grants are available for projects that: Help children and young people experiencing illness, distress, abuse or neglect Any kind of disability Behavioural or psychological difficulties And / or living in situations of deprivation. The closing date for applications is the 1st June 2015. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4fJVTzz5QmQx5rx0S4NVg0Q/small-grants
Artists International Development Fund Arts Council England has announced that its Artists International Development Fund will re-open for applications on the 23rd March 2015. This is a £750,000 funding stream for artists to develop links with artists, organisations and/or creative producers in other countries. Freelance and self-employed artists can apply for small grants of £1,000 to £5,000 to spend time building these links to broaden your horizons and open your work to other perspectives. The programme is open to emerging and mid-career artists working in combined arts, literature, music, theatre, dance, visual arts and crafts and design. You must have received recognition for your work in England and not have extensive international experience. Your application must also include a letter of support from the overseas partner/host. The deadline for applications will be 5pm on the 1st May 2015. Read more at: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/apply-funding/funding-programmes/artists-international-development-fund/
...A RECOVERIST MANIFESTO Over 2014 I had the pleasure of working with people in recovery from substance misuse in Liverpool, Manchester, Pistoia, Pescara and Kütahya. The work we were all involved in was organised by Mark Prest of Portraits of Recoveryand explored self-portraiture and cultural approaches to understanding addiction, but more than that, it gave all of us the opportunity to participate in the most compelling contemporary art experiences.
As part of this cultural exchange and learning programme, people participating in the project shared insights and passion, frustrations and rage. This in part, is how the idea of a manifesto came about. Building on the Manifesto for Arts and Health, those of us involved in the project, built on the sense of community that the workshops enabled. So we created safe spaces for anyone who wanted to be involved, to explore our individual and shared experiences and aspirations.
The result is the RECOVERIST MANIFESTO which reflects some of the process and the conjoined words of people in different cultures, but with the shared experience of being in recovery from substance missuse. It’s here in English and Italian and very soon will be in Turkish and Lithuanian.
Will Self has written an introduction to the manifesto, which in a pamphlet that is free from logos and individual statements, may seem a little odd. It’s not. As someone who identifies as being in recovery and as an eloquent social commentator, his analysis of the manifesto and reflections on sobriety, are succinct and poetic. He does exactly what each of us involved in this work does - he gives voice and personality to the largely invisible face of addiction - and more importantly - recovery.
All of you that have taken part in this process - whatever your story - whatever your contribution - thank you. Let us tell our shared story with pride. We are Recoverists.
P A N I C The brilliant NOUS magazine is exploring the territory of P A N I C for its latest edition. This is one of the best things out there. Contribute or find out more by clicking on the small panic above!
Funding for Digital Projects with a Social Impact The Nominet Trust which provides funding and support to technology with a social benefit, has announced that its Social Tech Seed Investment Programme will re-open for applications on the 17th March 2015. Social Tech Seed is an investment programme that offers early-stage investment of between £15,000 and £50,000 to social entrepreneurs and charitable organisations who are looking to develop new ideas to use digital technology for social benefits. This programme provides funding and support to help entrepreneurs nurture, develop and test their ideas. The Trust is looking for applications that demonstrate the potential of technology to tackle some of the big social issues in sectors including: Education Employability Healthcare The environment. The closing date for stage 1 applications will be Wednesday 15th April 2015. Applicants successful at this stage will have to submit a more detailed stage 2 application by the 27th May 2015. Read more at:http://www.nominettrust.org.uk/how-to-apply/our-investment-programmes-0
Over the next month or so, I’ll be sharing links to some of the people I have been working with who are studying at the Manchester School of Art. This week, here’s a link to the illustrator John Hogan. See more of his work by clicking on the image above. Your diligent blogger may be a little quieter over the next few weeks, as he hunkers down with some all-consuming projects.
Last week George Khut illuminated and inspired those of us who attended his presentation here in the School of Art - thanks George. His work features in the current exhibition at FACT called, Group Therapy: Mental Distress in a Digital Age, curated by the brilliant Vanessa Bartlett. The exhibition contains work by 12 artists including Melanie Manchot whose work 12 is previewed here, but launches in its full provocative beauty, at Peckham Platform in May, touring nationally and at Castlefield Gallery in September. This work, which was commissioned by Mark Prest of Portraits of Recovery, ties into much of the debate around addiction and recovery. I’m thrilled to have been asked to contribute to the book that accompanies the exhibition alongside such luminaries including Peter Kinderman and Victoria Betton. The book is available on-line or directly from FACT.
For those of you interested in health and digital technologies - I have had advanced notice of a very interesting new magazine, which may be looking for articles soon on video games and health - and the Victoria and Albert Museum are hosting a one day event called Art, Design and New Technology for Health on the 19th June. I'll be chairing part of the day and I can confirm some of the speakers look fantastic! To find out more and book a place, click on the image below.
For those of you with an interest in substance misuse and recovery, I am pleased to say that the Recoverist Manifesto is published next week in English and Italian, with Turkish and Lithuanian versions imminent! More details next week, but here’s a taster!
Exploring the links between the phenomenology of creativity and bipolar disorder
Arts for Health Research Associate, Dr Katherine Taylor has a new paper in the Journal of Affective Disorders. The links between bipolar disorder (BD) and creativity have historically attracted academic and public interest. Previous research highlights common characteristics of people considered to be highly creative, and those diagnosed with BD, including extraversion, impulsivity, divergent thinking and high motivation. In the first phenomenological study focusing on the links between creativity and extreme mood, an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach was used to collect and analyse in-depth interview data from seven people diagnosed with BD in the UK. Read more by clicking on the brilliant procraftinate definition below.
Something rotten in the state of England
I read that the government has awarded an NHS contract to a private firm linked to one of our recently exposed, scandal-hit MP’s, Sir Malcolm Rifkind. But the winning bid will actually cost the NHS more than a bid from local NHS services! Right now, much of the bidding for NHS contracts happens in secret. If NHS England made bidding processes fully transparent, we could hold the government to account. It feels like the NHS is being systematically dismantled and run in the interests of well connected private health firms. Find out how you can be involved by clicking on the greedy pig.
Inspiring Health - Young People's Arts and Health Conference
ROCHDALE YOUTH SERVICE
Friday, 13 March 2015 from 01:00 to 08:00 (GMT) Rochdale, United Kingdom For all the details of this interesting event that's focused on young people, click on the Jake and Dinos Chapman image below for more.
Deutsche Bank 2015 Awards for Creative Enterprise Aspiring artists, designers and performers who want to launch themselves as self-employed professionals can receive practical and financial support from the Deustche Bank Awards for Creative Enterprise (DBACE). The Award provides winners with £10,000 start up capital, business training and mentoring to steer them through their first year in business and beyond. Final year arts/creative degree/masters students and graduates (from Summer 2014) at arts colleges/universities around the UK that have registered for this year's programme can apply as individuals or as a group. The deadline for submitting applications is 5pm on 31st March 2015. Read more at: http://www.dbace.uk.com
Pause for a moment… Amsterdam, Netherlands A terminally ill woman looks at a self-portrait of Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum. Dutch charity Ambulance Wens granted the dying woman’s last wish for a private viewing of the Rembrandt exhibitionPhotograph: Roel Foppen/AP
The Radcliffe Trust – Music Grants The Radcliffe Trust has announced that the next deadline for applications to its Music masking grants programme is the 31st August 2015. Through its grant making programme, the Radcliffe Trust supports classical music performance and training especially chamber music, composition and music education. Particular interests within music education are music for children and adults with special needs, youth orchestras and projects at secondary and higher levels, including academic research. The Trustees respond to applications and also initiate their own projects. Applicants must be a registered charity or an exempt charity. http://www.theradcliffetrust.org/guidelines.php
Next Tuesday’s networking session here at Manchester School of Art with artist George Khut is between 6:00 and 7:30 and is now booked up. Waiting list is HERE. Venue details will be emailed on Monday to those with reservations.
PARTICIPATE and EVALUATE - GROUP THERAPY: Mental Distress in a Digital Age We would like to invite you to participate in the evaluation of GROUP THERAPY: Mental Distress in a Digital Age the forthcoming exhibition at FACT that examines links between technology, society and mental health. The session will employ The Visual Matrix, an innovative approach to evaluation that was created by researchers Lynn Froggett, Alastair Roy and their team at the Psychosocial Research Unit at University of Central Lancashire. The method was developed in response to gaps in the range of processes available to evaluate the experience of interacting with an artwork or exhibition and in particular the emotional and affective aspects of that experience. It is being employed in this context as part of the PhD research of Vanessa Bartlett, who is using it as a tool to evaluate audience response to artwork that deals with mental health. The evaluation session will be followed by an optional discussion with Lynn Froggett, who will explain in detail the thinking behind the process. These activities would suit anyone with an interest in arts and health or innovative forms of evaluation. To find out more go to Vanessa Bartlett’s BLOG, or email her at info@vanessabartlett.com
What on earth is this? Well for those of you with an interest in Vorticism, you may think it’s an Edward Wadsworth - it’s not. This is an image from Vic McEwan’s work.
The Paddle Steamer Enterprise is the largest functional object at the National Museum of Australia. Launched more than 130 years ago, she is one of oldest working paddle steamers in the world. The Enterprise has worked as a cargo boat, floating store, fishing vessel, houseboat and showboat and now, with Vic McEwan as artist in residence at the National Museum of Australia, it has become part of an installation performance and will be played as a musical instrument. The vessel was launched in 1878 after being built in Echuca from river red gum. These trees, once plentiful along the Murray River, provided a ready source of hardwood for building and powering paddle steamers. The tannin from a handful of eucalyptus leaves thrown into the boiler also prevented the interior walls from corroding. Vic - this boat has stories to tell - we look forward to hearing about the performance and some of those stories when you come to the School of Art in a couple of weeks time. Time and date very soon on this blog - but for now, to whet your appetite - here’s a SNIPPET of Vic playing the boat, and a film below to give you some background.
Artists International Development Fund
Arts Council England has announced that its Artists International Development Fund will re-open for applications on the 23rd march 2015. This is a £750,000 funding stream for artists to develop links with artists, organisations and/or creative producers in other countries. Freelance and self-employed artists can apply for small grants of £1,000 to £5,000 to spend time building these links to broaden your horizons and open your work to other perspectives. The programme is open to emerging and mid-career artists working in combined arts, literature, music, theatre, dance, visual arts and crafts and design. You must have received recognition for your work in England and not have extensive international experience. Your application must also include a letter of support from the overseas partner/host. The deadline for applications will be 5pm on the 1st May 2015. Read more at:
Funding for Artists & Bands The PRS for Music Foundation and Arts Council England have announced that the next application deadline for the Momentum Music Fund is the 2nd June 2015. The Momentum Music Fund is a £500,000 fund to develop the careers of talented artists and bands. It is anticipated that grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 will be awarded to between 50 and 75 artists/bands over the next 2 years. Applications can be submitted by the artists themselves or those who are working on their behalf, e.g. a manager, an independent label or publisher. Priority will be given to those that haven't been funded by PRS for Music Foundation in the previous 12 months. Read more at: http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/Funding/Momentum-Music-Fund
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