How and galleries can enhance health and wellbeing Contents

02 Foreword 04 Introduction: Health professionals +Culture Stories: 08 and Archive Service 09 People’s History Museum 10 Art Gallery 11 with Higher Blackley Children’s Sure Start Centre 12 The 13 Portland Basin Museum, Ashton under Lyne 14 Salford Museum and Art Gallery 15 16 Museum Medicine - How do we know it works? 20 Directory 21 Bibliography

2 HealthandCulture.org.uk 1 Foreword “Arts and health is not a new, untested or fringe activity. It has long been delivering robust improvements to our health services.” – Department of Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council , 2007: A Prospectus for Arts and Health.

More people than ever visit Britain’s at the People’s History Museum, generate museums and galleries. Record numbers complex emotional responses, and it is flocked to ’s award- thanks to the in-house expertise within winning and richly diverse museums and such institutions that people are able to galleries in 2011, and with good reason. through those emotions, leading These are, after all, enjoyable and thought- to an enhanced sense of wellbeing. provoking places to visit. Museums and galleries make a distinctive and well Museums and galleries in Greater documented contribution to visitors’ Manchester have long worked in close health and wellbeing, and recent research partnership with health professionals – even suggests that those who regularly often with impressive results, whether visit actually live longer. for patients or healthcare professionals themselves. We tell some of those But the vital contribution made by stories here. museums and galleries to Greater Manchester’s health is not simply about We hope that you enjoy finding out just experiencing those things that make us how culture works this magic, and we also feel better. Confrontation with, say, a hope that you will feel inspired to develop disturbing work of art at Manchester Art new and beneficial partnerships between Gallery, or shared memories of hardship museums and health professionals.

Maria Balshaw Peter W Mount CBE Director, Manchester City Chair, Central Manchester Galleries and Whitworth University Hospital NHS Art Gallery Foundation Trust

Jackie Daniel David Regan Chief Executive, Manchester Director of Public Health Mental Health and Social and Partnerships, Manchester Care Trust City Council

2 3 Introduction

Image (right) Health+Culture: a potent mix? Health+Culture: proven results Albert Square, Good health stems from much more than These are not simply grand claims. Manchester, painting by a healthy body. We know that the health This combination of health and culture Adolphe services cannot simply wave a magic wand is particularly potent – and well proven. Valette from and bring health and wellbeing to us all. Arts in health, a report by Dr R Staricoff, Manchester published by the Arts Council in 2004, Art Gallery. We also know that within Greater provided evidence that the arts “can help Manchester’s museums and galleries reduce heart-rate, blood pressure and there are untold treasures that can requests for analgesic medication”, while connect people to those things in life a recent scientific survey by Glasgow that are truly valuable: beauty, landscape, Life, called Cultural attendance and language, expression, history and science. public mental health, noted that “cultural These are the things that provide hope attendance provides a distinct stimulus and meaning in our lives. to human beings that has an impact on their wellbeing to such a degree that it It is for this reason, then, that health prolongs their lives.” professionals often join forces with museums and galleries – and, in so Elsewhere, the high quality of health- doing bring greater benefits to the related projects delivered by museums patients and residents of Manchester. and galleries has attracted its own recognition. In 2011, for example, the Hippocrates said that he would rather Royal Society for Public Health awarded know the person who has the disease the Who Cares? Museums, Health and than know the disease that the person Wellbeing programme (a partnership has. We think that the partnerships between healthcare professionals and between health and culture can improve six museums in the North West) both on Hippocrates’ aphorism. The stories its Arts & Health Practice and Arts & you read here demonstrate that culture Health Research awards. can help us know both the person’s ‘disease’ and the person themselves.

How so? Cultural experiences enable people to express their individuality; it is as if they bring their whole self into the consulting room. And cultural experiences can allow a person to connect with others, both living and those long dead. It is this combination of the individual and the social, the living and the dead, which makes the cultural experience such a powerful one.

4 Continued overleaf 5 Image (left) Painting of Introduction clasped hand by artist Lucy (continued) Burscough.

Health+Culture: take action We’d like you to tell someone else about This publication is not solely designed the potency of the partnerships between “Creative arts can help people to raise awareness of the value of culture health and cultural professionals. within healthcare. It is also a call to action. develop emotional resilience. We want to inspire you, the reader, to start And we would like you to get in touch talking and thinking about culture in a with your local museum or gallery to I would encourage more clinicians new way. find out how they can help you improve the health and wellbeing of the patients to explore partnerships as a way We’d like you to read the stories on in your care. Use the directory on page of benefitting patients’ mental the following pages so that you have 22 to find out more. a concrete understanding of how wellbeing.” cultural partnerships make a difference – in Greater Manchester today. Simon Barber, Chief Executive, 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

6 7 Stories: People’s History Museum and Archive Service Pauly’s War Museum Collections & You

Image Image In the woodland An image from Pauly’s surrounding Smithills War, the performance the Hall the group made Healthy Living Walking clay sculptures. Group watched at the People’s History Museum.

Museum Collections & You was a Back at , the group had a Healthy Living Walking Group Thanks to both its historic, industrial therapeutic project that encouraged warming cup of tea and discussed the day. meets every week to take walks around the building and the objects displayed within, ‘free play’, and focused on participants They were particularly fascinated by the city. As its name suggests, it uses physical the People’s History Museum lends itself with mild-to-moderate mental health stories of collectors who had died long and social activities to enhance the health well to such events, creating a welcoming problems to explore quite personal ago but lived on through their collections. and wellbeing of its members, many of place where people can reminisce about material in a pressure-free way. Those One participant was prompted to recall whom would otherwise be isolated and the past and connect with today through who took part in this 20-week project her childhood, stressing that Museum lonely. The group is mainly made up of dramatic performances such as Pauly’s were referred by their GP through Collections & You gave her the freedom women aged between 60 and 80 years War. Watching as a group gives people Active Health, a public-health funded to experiment denied to her as a child. old. On one occasion the group attended a chance to share their memories, and service within Bolton Council. Pauly’s War at the People’s History helps combat the feelings of isolation “It was an opportunity to play,” she said. Museum, a performance that tells the and loneliness so often experienced by One session saw the group visit Smithills “I didn’t play much as a child. Having [the story of a young girl named Pauly as older generations. Hall (a Grade I listed building not far from artist and project manager] here made she grows up in war-torn Manchester. Bolton town centre). The Hall is surrounded it a safe place. I find that if I can play it “There was lots of laughter, joking and by woodland, and the Museum’s Natural frees me; somehow it made me lose my Watching a film of Manchester during friendly banter,” said the group organiser. History Curator described how the Hall has inhibitions. For me, it’s been a wonderful the Blitz, and seeing a young Pauly “When I asked the group if this bonding been used since the 19th century to collect opportunity.” leave the city behind to the song happened because they were in the flower and plant specimens. She showed Farewell Manchester, gave the group People’s History Museum as opposed to the group some of these specimens and Museum Collections & You deliberately the opportunity to collectively reminisce. somewhere else, one person felt it could told the stories of the people who collected set out to generate this sense of free play. One member of the group was moved have taken place anywhere. More of the them. This was followed by a walk in the The artworks created as a result of the to say, “As children went away to escape group, though, said there was something woodland where the group did blindfold sessions, for example, were never intended the bombing, I remember singing Farewell about the Museum which is about ‘people trust exercises over uneven ground. to be displayed in the museum. It was Manchester with my school friends – like me’ and Manchester’s history, and Each person was then given a lump an approach that was vital for those who we were on the train going to Lytham.” this helped connections to be made.” of clay to sculpt - some sculpted the suffered from extreme anxiety, or were animals and fungi they had seen during so ill that producing a work of ‘museum Following the performance, members of their walk. Some took their sculptures quality’ would prove too daunting. the group were invited to look more closely ; others left them on a tree stump By taking the pressure off, this project at historic objects such as ration books and for dog walkers to puzzle over. “resulted in deep personal reflection knitted slippers – some lively conversations that may have been unachievable if the followed, with one woman remarking that, work had been destined for exhibition.” “the play opened my eyes about the 1930s and 1940s”.

8 9 Stories: Manchester Art Gallery Manchester Art Gallery with Capture It Higher Blackley Children’s Sure Start Centre Becoming a New Parent

Image Image Ophelia, painting by The large stoneware acid Arthur Hughes from jug, made by Doulton Manchester Art Gallery, and Company Ltd from chosen by the participants. Manchester Art Gallery, chosen by one of the participants.

Capture It was a year-long project It was a deliberately challenging activity. Becoming a New Parent was designed to on a number of occasions the conversation designed to enhance recovery and build “I am not a particularly creative person address the low rate of breastfeeding in spontaneously moved to breastfeeding. self-esteem in young people with a history and am not good at art so I felt under North Manchester: a lack of breastfeeding Typically, one participant would ask an of self-harm and eating disorders. It was a lot of pressure when we had to is associated with a number of chronic experienced breastfeeder, how do you delivered by Wigan Child and Adolescent do the sketchbook task,” said one childhood disorders. It is an issue that has do it? Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and participant. “This made me want to been identified by Manchester Art Gallery, who between go home, although I didn’t go home as a means of attaining better health for In one session, participants were asked them ran monthly groups for fifteen and everyone was really nice.” its residents. to choose an object they felt represented young people who came to the gallery them in some way. One chose a large accompanied by two psychiatrists. Despite the challenges, the project But simply telling people about the industrial acid jug. It demonstrated was a success. Evaluation that was advantages of breastfeeding isn’t the way, she said, she felt as a mother, The project was divided into sessions both qualitative (feedback from the particularly effective. Instead, an always being filled up and then emptied spent with works in the gallery - exploring young people, parents and carers) alternative means of encouraging out. “Everybody pours their stuff into themes such as relationships, identity and quantitative (using the Warwick mothers to breastfeed was needed, with the jug and I get fuller and fuller.” or bullying - and studio time where Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale), Becoming a New Parent the end result. participants were guided through creative clearly demonstrated a consistent This was a project that used Manchester These gentle conversations encouraged activities such as painting, photography, increase in WEMWBS scores, and Art Gallery’s objects and spaces to create greater self-esteem and lessened the collage and poetry. thus an improved sense of wellbeing, easy conversation between mothers, sense that the women were alone across the group. enabling them to ask about breastfeeding with their difficulties. One mother In one session, the young people were in a non-pressurised environment and thus felt (accurately or not) that she was asked to collectively choose a work “Capture It gave the young people make better informed choices about their under scrutiny at the Sure Start Centre, in the historic galleries that they were who took part a valuable opportunity to own and their babies’ health. whilst the Gallery, free of associations, drawn to. They chose Ophelia by Arthur use art to explore their sense of identity was a place where she felt more able Hughes (1852). The tragic story of Ophelia and express difficult emotions outside Three mothers came to the Gallery for six to be herself without being judged. – love, madness and death – clearly struck of a clinical setting. As such, it is a good morning sessions. Each artist-led session a chord, and the group went on to work example of how creative arts can help used some of the artworks on display as a “This is good because it’s different,” with an artist to produce a graphic strip people develop emotional resilience. starting point for conversation, and these said one participant. “Everything is of their responses to the painting. I would encourage more clinicians conversations were followed up by creative [usually] about you and your child to explore partnerships as a way of art-making activities. The emphasis was on together, which is nice but this is really benefitting patients’ mental wellbeing.” the informal: the mothers sat round a table good ‘cause it’s just for us, the mums. Simon Barber, Chief Executive, 5 Boroughs with tea and cake and chatted while they It’s like having time to yourself.” Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. got on with the craft activity. Interestingly,

10 11 Stories: The Manchester Museum Portland Basin Museum, Memories of Manchester Ashton under Lyne Fit for Life

Image Image Manchester residents at John, one of the ten Bridges Day Unit, part of people suffering long-term Manchester Mental Health ill-health documented by GP and Social Care Trust. and artist Lucy Campbell- Maguire.

Memories of Manchester is a heritage, For older people, being able to reminisce Encouraging people to improve their diet Alongside the exhibition, the GP and health and wellbeing project developed in this way can enhance both the inner and lifestyle is one of the major challenges artist Lucy Campbell-Maguire documented by The Manchester Museum and linked self and social skills. It involves exchanging facing the NHS. Yet adopting a ‘preachy’ through words and photography ten to Manchester City Council’s Valuing memories with friends and relatives, tone, and hectoring people about what local people’s experience of ill-health. Older People initiative, which is in turn with caregivers and professionals, they should and shouldn’t do, rarely works. All had experienced major illness or designed to improve the quality of life passing on information, wisdom and To tackle this, the Portland Basin Museum disease. For some it lasted a few years, for older people in Manchester. skills. It can give lonely people a sense worked with Tameside and Glossop and for others most of their adult lives, of value and belonging. Primary Care Trust and Tameside Council’s yet the resulting portraits were uplifting The project focused on people’s memories Health Improvement Team to develop and gave real insight into both the of Belle Vue Zoological Gardens (which Memories of Manchester was also an innovative way of getting the public hardship and bravery of her ten subjects. closed in 1981). To prompt participants, helpful for staff, as it offered new ways to consider their health. “The people I worked with for this objects from the museum were taken of interacting with patients. “My view project are defined by being musicians, in specially-designed ‘handling boxes’ of the patient has changed holistically,” They developed Fit for Life, an exhibition artists, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, into hospital wards and care settings said one care worker. “Seeing the patient that examined ordinary people’s health grandfathers, leaders, inventors, writers, for older people, including the Complex before ill health, or in many cases before over the last 200 years. Rather than lecture teachers, gardeners and friends,” Health Needs Ward at Manchester Royal dementia, has allowed me to experience visitors, the exhibition looked at health said Lucy. “These are the things that Infirmary, Bridges Day Unit and Shore the happy times.” from a historical viewpoint – with current- characterise them. The stories they have Green Residential Home. day health tips and information stealthily to tell are poignant and life affirming.” “Patient care has been improved by woven in. Patients, carers and staff reminisced about providing more dignity for patients, The exhibition was a huge success, with their experiences at Belle Vue, which, social opportunities and the creation The historical angle also meant that the over 53,000 visitors. A Healthy Schools from the middle of the 19th century, was of a relaxed environment,” said another exhibition could cover a wide range of workshop that accompanied the exhibition the place to go in Manchester to have fun. member of staff, while a colleague noted topics. Visitors saw original dentistry tools, saw 1,600 pupils take part, while a Artists joined some sessions, creating an that previously aggressive patients had an old hearing aid, sports equipment and programme of family learning activities opportunity for participants to share their appeared friendlier and happier after ‘quack’ medicines – as well as some rather was available during the school holidays. stories in new and visual ways, while other the workshops. gruesome objects such as an amputation visits were accompanied by the music and saw, a pot for storing leeches and a set of songs that would have played during dance cups used to draw blood. Fit for Life also nights at Belle Vue. looked at some of the diseases and poor conditions that plagued the 19th and early 20th century working classes: illnesses such as typhoid and cholera, as well as slum housing and poor diets.

12 13 Stories: Salford Museum & Art Gallery Whitworth Art Gallery Memories Matter Reminiscence Who Cares? If you only see Project the illness, you miss the person

Image Image Participants with one of the Beth, Hidden by Lucy objects that it was hoped Burscough seeks to address would trigger memories. how individuals and society can tend toward defining the mentally ill by their problems alone, and forget the many positive aspects to their personalities.

Memories Matter provides reminiscence The evaluation of Memories Matter The Whitworth Art Gallery has a long and “Thank you for all the work you did resources and activities for older people showed that it was this combination of successful history of working with local with the young people of Galaxy House throughout Salford. One of its series of handling objects and the sense that their communities, such as users of community during Beth’s stay, but most importantly workshops focused on weddings, Whit personal stories were valued that made a centres in surrounding wards, older people for highlighting children’s mental health Walks and holidays. In these workshops, difference to participants. They felt proud in residential and care homes, and adults and for bringing it into the public eye,” museum staff brought historic objects and of their lives and this in turn supported the with mental health problems. A logical said a parent of one of the children at photographs into four day centres for older development of relationships between their progression of this work was to turn to Galaxy House. “It is definitely something, people. The idea was that these objects, peers and their carers. the healthcare community on its doorstep, that, as a parent, I feel is pushed under such as a 1939 wedding dress or vintage and the Gallery did so by developing a a carpet and hidden away. We are living Punch and Judy puppets, would trigger “I can only say that it gave us the greatest new partnership with Central Manchester proof, so are all the other children in people’s memories and get them talking. pleasure to be involved in such a wonderful University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. places like Galaxy House, that it can project. I could not have envisaged the happen to any family at any time and Care workers, occupational therapists absolute pleasure it would give to all This partnership was designed to examine I really do thank you for recognising and centre managers worked closely with concerned, and our service users were the needs of the local hospital community, that they are beautiful children behind museum staff throughout the project to delighted to have their stories included and in particular its access to the extensive the illnesses they are experiencing.” develop and deliver workshops. By making in the Museum exhibition.” Day Centre collections and resources offered by sure that the specific needs and interests of Manager, Salford. this University Gallery and its highly The exhibition attracted new audiences participants were addressed, participants specialised staff. from the health sector and associated were more engaged in the project than service providers through the provision they might otherwise have been and the Who Cares? If you only see the illness, of a wide range of informal, social and end result – the stories that emerged – you miss the person, was one of the creative activities. It provided opportunities were both powerful and moving. partnership’s recent projects, and resulted for consultation and collaboration. in an exhibition that displayed portraits These stories were recorded and displayed from the Whitworth’s collection alongside “A visit to the Gallery can broaden one’s as part of a three month-long exhibition newly-commissioned portraits of children awareness of the value of art in enriching at the Museum, High Days and Holidays, from Galaxy House, the residential the understanding of the world in which along with the photographs and objects psychiatric unit at Manchester Children’s we live,” said one consultant psychiatrist. that had inspired them. 15,000 people Hospital. The exhibition transformed “The visit helps to demystify the came to see the exhibition, which in turn the gallery into a therapeutic space. gallery, offers a space for reflection and had an impact on those who had taken Who Cares? provided a stimulus for contemplation, and affirms the potential part in it. They felt that their stories curiosity and exploration, reflection for art to intersect with the medical world.” were valued and respected by their local and meditation. community and that, in turn, they mattered.

14 15 Museum Medicine - How do we know it works?

We are all under pressure to prove that The evidence base What do museums and galleries Evidence in Precarious Flight: An what we do ‘works’. Before we tell you It is not only our own experience that offer in particular? evaluation of the arts program running about the evidence that shows how tells us that doing creative things is A research programme, Heritage in in UCLH shows that within healthcare culture can transform lives, think about good for our health – research backs Hospitals, at University College settings the arts can help reduce heart what difference culture makes to your life. it up. Just one example, Dr R Staricoff’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust found rates, blood pressure and requests for Perhaps cultural activity puts you in touch Arts in Health review of nearly 400 papers, that taking museum objects to patients’ analgesic medication. On top of this, with your loves and hates, good times demonstrates the beneficial impact of bedsides increased positive emotions, the arts produce aesthetic and reflective and bad times, or regrets for things long- the arts on people’s health. As the joint wellbeing and happiness. Patients were responses which reach into our very being since passed. Perhaps you find it offers an publication from the Department of Health distracted from their hospital surroundings and can help to give meaning to our lives escape from the difficulties of everyday and Arts Council England, A Prospectus by the handling sessions. The researchers when we desperately need something to life, or is a release from work or home life. for Arts and Health (2007), puts it: “Arts used PANAS (Positive Affect Negative hold onto. Or perhaps you use culture to connect – and health is not a new, untested or fringe Affect) and Visual Analogue Scales to to your family, your friends or just to your activity. It has long been delivering robust assess psychological wellbeing. Six museums in the North West of England, own emotions. improvements to our health services.” from Manchester to Carlisle, ran projects A report about this, called Museopathy: with health professionals including Exploring the Healing Potential of psychiatrists, nurses, care workers and Handling Museum Objects, describes community workers as part of the award- how the experience of handling and winning Who Cares? Museums, Health and talking about museum objects in hospitals Wellbeing programme. Research about this can help patients work through issues programme by the University of Central of illness, mourning and death. They can Lancashire shows the effectiveness of help to restore dignity and a sense of using museum and gallery objects to identity by providing a springboard for help patients express difficult emotions. reminiscence and speaking about oneself, Telling stories about one’s life is the basis and can also help healthcare professionals of many psychological therapies, and it develop better, closer relationships with is clear that museum objects often act as their patients. catalysts for people who need extra help in starting to tell their story.

Image (left) A mask from The Manchester Museum, The .

16 Continued overleaf 17 Museum Medicine - How do we know it works? (continued)

Museums and galleries reconnect Museums and galleries enrich and even the isolated prolong life We believe that the fact that museum The Cultural Attendance and Public Mental objects are in the public domain, that Health report, that surveyed the scientific they belong to all of us, is critical for evidence, reached the following powerful understanding how they can help us. conclusion: “…taken together this body People form symbolic relationships of research amounts to convincing with objects. If someone can form an evidence by medical and public health attachment to a museum object, and can researchers that cultural attendance make connections between themselves provides a distinct stimulus to human and the precious, untouchable things beings that has an impact on their inside museums, they can feel more wellbeing to such a degree that it included in wider society - vital for prolongs their lives.” those feeling isolated or alienated by ill health, and in particular those It is, therefore, not just intense engagement suffering from mental ill-health. in specially designed activities that makes As the Who Cares? Museums, Health a difference to people’s health. By simply and Wellbeing programme notes: visiting museums and galleries on a “By making a personally distinctive use regular basis, a person can expect to see of an object, I retain my uniqueness and a profound and positive impact on their individuality… but I bring that individuality health. Put simply, cultural experiences into relation with what the object stands offer complete immersion and this in turn for in the wider cultural field. I therefore makes us feel good. Culture as experienced begin to dissolve the separation I may in museums and galleries gives meaning feel from the cultural field of which and hope to our lives. others appear to be a part.”

Image (left) Madeleine by Lucy Burscough.

18 19 Arts in health: a review Heritage in Hospitals Directory Bibliography of the medical literature http://tinyurl.com/ http://tinyurl.com/ heritageinhospitals artsinhealthreview Museopathy: Exploring Cultural Attendance the Healing Potential of and Public Mental Handling Museum Objects Health Report http://tinyurl.com/ http://tinyurl.com/ museopathy culturalattendance Precarious Flight: Who Cares? Museums, An evaluation of the health and wellbeing arts program running http://tinyurl.com/ in UCLH whocaresmuseums http://tinyurl.com/ precariousflight Find out more about the museums and A prospectus for galleries represented in this publication, The Manchester arts and health or if you would like to discuss in detail http://tinyurl.com/ how culture can help you and your Museum prospectusfor patients, contact Wendy Gallagher, Arts and Health Coordinator, Whitworth Art Gallery, telephone 0161 275 8454, email The University of Manchester [email protected]. Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL

T: 0161 275 2634 E: [email protected] W: www.manchester.ac.uk/museum

Bolton Museum and Portland Basin Archive Service Museum

Le Mans Crescent Portland Place Bolton Ashton-under-Lyne OL7 0QA Lancashire BL1 1SE T: 0161 343 2878 T: 01204 332211 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: www.tameside.gov.uk/ W: www.boltonmuseums.org.uk museumsgalleries/portland

People’s History Salford Museum Museum and Art Gallery

Left Bank Peel Park Spinningfields The Crescent Manchester M3 3ER Salford M5 4WU

T: 0161 838 9190, T: 0161 778 0800 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] W: www.phm.org.uk W: www.salford.gov.uk/salfordmuseum

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Mosley Street The University of Manchester Manchester M2 3JL Oxford Road Manchester M15 6ER T: 0161 235 8888 E: [email protected] (Leisa Gray) T: 0161 275 7450 W: www.manchestergalleries.org E: [email protected] W: www.manchester.ac.uk/whitworth

20 HealthandCulture.org.uk

A partnership between

Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Tr ust