Re-Emerge: Arts & Health

What is Re-Emerge?

Re-Emerge is The Art House’s arts and health programme. We provide opportunities to improve mental health and wellbeing through a variety of art forms, using our specialist maker spaces – printmaking, photography and ceramics – as well as painting, drawing, collage and journaling.

Our arts and health work is externally funded, and also only possible through collaboration with a variety of health, education, charity and community partners. Much of the accompanying research has been carried out in partnership with Dr. Jessica Bradley PhD SFHEA.

What happens in Re-Emerge sessions?

Participants take part in small group creative workshops and activities.  These activities aim to provide methods for self-expressions, to build confidence as well as learn new skills, giving participants ways to manage their mental health and wellbeing. The programme gives a gentle, structured and relaxed opportunity to make connections and create support networks to help reduce fears and build resilience.

You can explore a visual intro to Re-Emerge, featuring work that has been created throughout the programme here.

Maternal Journal

A key strand of Re-Emerge has been creative journaling courses for pregnant women and new mothers using guides that were developed by artists, midwives, doulas, therapists and others as part of the global community movement Maternal Journal.

Journaling has been delivered across the Wakefield district in an effort to reach perinatal women who are suffering with mild to moderate mental health issues or experiencing isolation or in vulnerable situations.

One cohort of participants worked with an artist to create a zine about their journaling experiences which is available online here.

Mens Creative Shed

In August 2024 we were awarded two years’ funding from the Baring Foundation to deliver an arts and health programme specifically targeted at men with mental health issues. This will be delivered in close partnership with Gasped who work with people in the Wakefield district experiencing emotional distress.

We will again be working with Dr Jessica Bradley and also Dr Sam McKay, a theatre maker, researcher, lecturer and project manager with a wealth of experience working with men’s creative health projects.

Want to know more?

We are currently looking to secure more to keep this vital work alive. If you would like to find out more or work in partnership with us to deliver please get in touch.

If our Arts & Health programme sounds like something that you, or someone you know, may benefit from, you can get in touch by filling in our contact form. Our team are available to discuss a person’s individual needs and how to best accommodate them, and are more than happy to help.

Please be sure to mention Re-emerge in your form