Live Well Make Art

Live Well Make Art is an informal network of artists, arts organisations, health activists and health professionals and academics from across Greater Manchester (GM). Their vision states:

‘We want a healthier Greater Manchester, where all its people can share the benefits of engaging in and enjoying the arts and creative activities with each other. We want our streets, neighbourhoods and communities to be vibrant places to live.’

Responsibility for the health and social care budget has been devolved from national level to Greater Manchester; this represents an opportunity to ensure that the part the arts can play in contributing to positive health and well-being at individual and community level, in raising awareness of the economic and social inequities which influence health outcomes and in mitigating the effects of disadvantaged is recognised and valued.'

Gerri says ‘This matters to me personally as well as professionally. I have a chronic illness and part of my own answer to staying as well as possible has been participating in arts activities and enjoying being an audience member. As the terrific report Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing (http://www.artshealthandwellbeing.org.uk/appg-inquiry/Publications/Creative_Health_Inquiry_Report_2017.pdf) explains the arts can help meet major challenges facing our society in terms of health, wellbeing and social care: ageing, long-term conditions, loneliness and mental health.’

Since the launch of Live Well Make Art, Greater Manchester’s Population Health Board have unanimously supported a proposal to work towards a GM Arts for Health and Wellbeing Programme and the network is about to co-ordinate a series of events aimed at developing the idea of arts and health as a social movement.