The Jameel Arts & Health Lab and Scottish Ballet today announced that Healing Arts Scotland, a week-long, nationwide initiative highlighting and advocating for the impact of the arts on health, begins in Edinburgh on Monday, 19th August, with an opening ceremony outside the Scottish Parliament, during the Edinburgh International Festival.
Produced together with a national coalition of organisations across culture, science, health, education, and government, Healing Arts Scotland also comprises a conference on the healing effects of the arts as part of the Edinburgh International Festival, a wellbeing concert in Glasgow and a series of special events in Aberdeen, Orkney, Lewis and at Dumfries House, home of The King’s Foundation.
With two days of speakers and panel discussions, the Healing Arts Scotland Conference will take place in Edinburgh on 19th & 20th August and in Glasgow on 21st August, featuring Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Gregor Smith, as well as leading international arts health figures, including Christopher Bailey, a founding co-director of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab and the first-ever Arts and Health Lead at the World Health Organization (WHO).
Part of the global Healing Arts campaign created by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab in collaboration with the WHO, Healing Arts Scotland will feature events across the country, including Cancer Tapestry, a tapestry featuring 100 cancer stories from around Scotland; Small Town Boy, an exhibition and rave marking the 40th anniversary of the LGBTQ+ anthem; and Storywalk, an event in the Cairngorms aimed at ‘restorying’ the land with folktales and lore.
“Many cities around the world have taken part in our series of Healing Arts activations, but I am excited to see Scotland taking a truly national approach. Scotland’s unique sense of community, its embrace of all art forms, and its commitment to health for all promise to be an exciting combination. I can’t wait to participate and see what the communities come up with.”
WHO Arts & Health Lead and Co-Director of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, Christopher Bailey
“The links between the arts and health are long established, not only in creating the environment for good health to flourish, but in supporting people with long term conditions. Scottish Ballet are leading exponents of this approach and I am immensely proud to be attending and supporting Healing Arts Scotland Week to learn more about how we can make the most of this fantastic opportunity to improve people’s health and wellbeing.”
Scottish Chief Medical Officer, Sir Gregor Smith
“The Edinburgh International Festival is proud to be part of the first ever nationwide Healing Arts campaign in Scotland. This is an important dialogue to help address health inequalities across the country and we look forward to facilitating those conversations throughout August.”
Edinburgh International Festival CEO Francesca Hegyi
