National News

Sunand Prasad, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), will deliver a keynote address on healthcare architecture at the Health Estates & Facilities Management Association’s Annual Conference which will be taking place at the Park Inn Heathrow in May under the headline theme ‘The future of healthcare delivery: an international EFM perspective’.

The conference will focus on the design and management of healthcare facilities and will also showcase the impact art can have in improving the healing environment. For further information, w: www.hefma.org.uk.

The National Portrait Gallery has spent the past year working in partnership with four hospital schools in London and has now produced a best practice toolkit describing the methods used during the project in order to provide practical information to arts practitioners, museums and galleries and hospital school staff who are thinking of establishing an outreach programme. To access a copy of the free toolkit, e: FViding@npg.org.uk

As reported in last month's newsletter, Alan Johnson gave a very positive speech to the Museums Libraries and Archives Association about the role of the arts in health.

A full transcript of the speech can be viewed on the LAHF website. w: www.lahf.org.uk

Arts Council England has announced its three year plan 2008-2011 and, despite commitments made by the Arts Council in its 2007 arts in health strategy, arts in health has not been included as a strategic priority.

Over the past five months, LAHF has been in correspondence with the Arts Council's new Chief Executive Alan Davey arguing the case for continued support for the arts in health sector. We will continue to maintain this dialogue and will report future developments via our newsletter.

Alder Hey in Liverpool is playing host to a national conference looking at how to develop children and young people's arts in health programming.

The conference will include a focus on ‘Cultural Champions' (leading arts organisations on Merseyside) and the Artists' in Residence programme at Alder Hey.

The event takes place on 19^th November and attendance costs £35. e: Gill.Kennedy@alderhey.nhs.uk

On Sunday 9^th November, The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester is running a day-long practical taster workshop of its work presenting live music at the bedside.

The cost is £95. For more details, e: jill.barlow@rncm.ac.uk

On Tuesday 16th September, Alan Johnson, the Secretary of State for Health gave a speech addressing the role the arts can play in promoting health at the Wallace Collection in London. Details of his speech will appear on the LAHF website shortly.

www.myinsideout.co.uk is a new magazine written by people with mental health problems. The magazine will include poetry, short stories, illustrations and fine art. Visit the website for more details.

On Friday 14th November, the University of Nottingham will host a conference entitled ‘Equipping people to work in the arts and mental health’. The conference aims to challenge some of the assumptions being made about using the arts for mental health purposes and identify some of the key issues, which will help participants to feel more equipped to engage with the arts and mental health agenda and the associated issues surrounding it.

Jackie Sands, Arts and Health Coordinator for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is looking to get in touch with fellow LAHF members who have addressed issues surrounding Agenda for Change banding grades for NHS Arts and Health Coordinators. She is keen to communicate with anyone who has already made recommendations for an Arts and Health Agenda for Change Key skills Framework. To get in touch, e: Jackie.sands@ggc.scot.nhs.uk