The next meeting of the Sheffield Arts and Wellbeing network will take place on Tues Feb 11th, 6.30pm, at St Matthews, Carver St, Sheffield. All are welcome, and there is no charge to attend.
There will be a presentation about the effects of narrative writing on patients who have experienced brain injury and coma, and another on the new Sheffield centre for arts and wellbeing. More information below.
Meeting dates for 2014 as follows (venue will vary).
Tues Feb 11th
Mon April 7th
Weds June 11th
July date: TBC
Weds Sept 10th
Tues Nov 11th
Tuesday February 11th meeting
The main presenter will be Matthew Colbeck, a PhD researcher whose work centres on the effects of narrative writing on patients who have experienced brain injury and coma.
“Representations of the medical conditions of coma and brain injury are rife across literature and the media, but how often are they accurate? Do they help to inform or, perhaps, misinform our collective understanding of what these conditions entail? And what is the potential impact of this misinformation upon the real survivors of coma and brain injury?”
Matt Colbeck will discuss these issues, whilst looking at first-person narratives that have been developed and published by The Write Way, a Sheffield writing collective whose members are all survivors of coma and brain injury.
For more information about Matt’s work click here.
Secondly, we will have a presentation from SAWN steering group member Graham Duncan, on the future opportunities we have with the regeneration of St Matthews church, which is set to become a hub for arts and wellbeing. Here’s some information from Graham:
“St Matthews House is about to undergo a £1.5m refurbishment to transform it into a bespoke facility for art and creativity. It will have a café, a community pottery, 2 large purpose designed workshop spaces, exhibition space and 3 small studio spaces and meeting rooms.
The idea at the heart of St Matthews House is that “creativity is the immune system of the mind”.
Everyone needs an immune system so the facilities will be open to everyone, but with a particular focus on people with mental health and learning difficulties, providing a high quality and inclusive location in the city centre.
The refurbished House will re-open at the end of 2014 and we hope it will be a base for SAWN activities. So this is your chance to see round, to hear a bit more about the vision and to contribute your ideas.”
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