posted on 2023-08-30, 14:46authored byCeri Wilson, Lyn Kent
Background: 2Create is a mental health service user-led art group in the UK established by graduates of Open Arts, a community arts and mental health project. The study aimed to explore group members’ experiences over its first year.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five current and one former member of 2Create.
Results: Key themes related to organisation (evolving; flexibility; finance; leadership challenges), the studio environment, personal gains (social inclusion; self-esteem; well-being) and future plans (increasing membership; exhibitions; funding applications; social events).
Conclusion: The gains reported indicate that 2Create is beneficial to its members. Although a number of challenges were identified, all participants identified personal and group-wide gains and emphasised that challenges are to be expected when setting up a new group. The key implication for independent mental health user-led arts groups is that support is needed in the early stages and that independence can then be achieved with time.
History
Refereed
Yes
Volume
8
Issue number
2
Page range
169-181
Publication title
Arts and Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice
ARCHIVED Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education (until September 2018)
Note
This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in: 'Arts and Health' available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2015.1048697