Art as a social tonic - an international perspective

Tuesday 3 October 2006

Renowned international researcher, Mike White, from the UK's Durham University, will this week give a public lecture at the University of Newcastle, on the rapid emergence of using arts projects to address health issues.

'Making Sense of Health - Arts as a Social Tonic', will provide the Newcastle community with a unique perspective on a growing global movement to develop arts within health care.

Mr White's lecture is part of a two-day forum to launch and set the direction of the University of Newcastle's new ArtsHealth Research Centre.

"The ArtsHealth Research Centre will make a significant contribution to growing evidence that creativity has a strong role to play in people's health and wellbeing," said Professor Barney Glover, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

"'Making Sense of Health' provides the community with a unique opportunity to learn more about, and participate in, this emerging field."

Day two of the forum will draw links between the role of creativity in tackling key social challenges for today's communities, including ageing, Indigenous issues, mental health and youth.

The University of Newcastle is investing $250,000 over three years into its ArtsHealth Research Centre, which will bring together a range of projects into a strategic framework that enables the University's creative arts sector to consolidate and strengthen its research activities.

"This is relatively new territory but one that has enormous public health policy implications both nationally and internationally," said Professor Glover.

"The Centre will address the growing need to develop culturally rich, sustainable social environments. Targeting key social issues such as ageing and youth suicide, the centre will focus the University's research into health issues that are challenging policy makers across the world."

The public lecture for the ArtsHealth forum will be delivered from 3.50pm on Thursday 5 October at the Conservatorium of Music Theatre in Newcastle city.

The forum runs over two days, concluding with the ArtsHealth Centre launch at 4.30pm on Friday 6 October. Media welcome.

Media inquiries and program details: Katie Porritt, Coordinator - Media and Public Relations, the University of Newcastle 02 4921 5120 or 0418 445 888.