It is widely recognised that engagement with the arts not only has a positive impact on wellbeing, but can support recovery, improve healthcare, staff wellbeing, and help reduce NHS spending. Interdisciplinary work in arts and health is plentiful in gallery education – learning and engagement teams have forged partnerships with health and social care services, charities, artists, technologists and, researchers Higher Education and clinicians across the UK and globally. From maternity and neonatal care through to older age, creative activity is being embraced as an element in tackling some of the health inequalities that face society today.

A Social Prescription will give an insight into the myriad ways in which practitioners are embracing the arts and health agenda, from rethinking urban planning and embracing Virtual Reality, to changing the ways in which clinicians are trained and how we measure wellbeing.

Insightful plenaries will focus on diverse approaches to community engagement and partnership working between arts and non-arts organisations.

Small parallel sessions delivered within an atmosphere of critical and supportive dialogue will enable delegates to learn about different aspects of arts and health work in on the following three themes:

• Where and how we live, work and recover
• Wellbeing
• Re-education: artists and clinicians.

An ethics committee will discuss questions around wellbeing, collections and equalities in the gallery setting.

A speed mentoring session will offer delegates the opportunity to discuss professional issues – fast -with colleagues from across the sector.

Session contributors will also relate practical experience from a range of projects that support children and young people, older people, people with Dementia and those with physical and mental health conditions.