Artist Wellbeing in Practice
Join us for an online discussion about artist wellbeing in the participatory arts and more specifically creative ageing work. We will look at current challenges, discuss areas for development in the sector and highlight good practice and some practical tools.
We will be joined by Dr Julia Puebla Fortier who conducts participatory action research and evaluation on arts, health and wellbeing as an independent researcher and with the University of Bristol. Julia will discuss areas of her research centred on artist wellbeing and support, as well as provide some practical tools and prompts to help you think about your own practice.
We will also be joined by Elaine Kordys, dancer, artist and founder of Spin Turn Creative Movement, who will reflect on her own experiences as an artist working with older people, as well as the impact artist support programmes have had on her practice.
The discussion will be particularly relevant for those working as an artist in the participatory arts, particularly creative ageing, as well as those commissioning participatory arts projects led by artists.
This opportunity is open to those based internationally as well as in Scotland.
The event is free and places are limited. It will take place via Zoom and joining instructions will be sent to you in advance of the session.
Speaker biographies
Dr Julia Puebla Fortier
Dr. Julia Puebla Fortier conducts participatory action research and evaluation on arts, health and wellbeing as an independent researcher and with the University of Bristol. She has a special interest in the experiences of creative facilitators working with challenging health and psychosocial conditions. Julia is a co-developer of the Culture West-funded essential skills training programme for creative health practitioners and participates in national and international dialogues on professional development for creative health. She co-authored the Arts Council England commissioned report ‘Keeping Safe: Psychosocial support for creative health practitioners.’ She was previously the lead for research, evaluation and training for Arts & Health South West.
Elaine Kordys
“I have always liked to move and make things. Movement and art have always given me new possibilities to connect, to be in relation to others and to express myself. My degree in dance and visual art, training in Dance Movement Therapy and a diploma in Dementia Studies sits alongside my vast experience of working in the arts over 30 years. I have facilitated movement workshops with older people and people with a diagnosis of dementia and developed creative projects working in film, performance, movement and visual art. On a freelance basis I run Spin Turn Creative Movement through which I facilitate movement workshops with care and arts organisations and also develop creative projects. I work part time with Alzheimer Scotland, in my home town of Helensburgh, facilitating movement sessions, creative arts and activities.”
