Healthway ’s Post

"Too many arts centers are like sleeping giants in our towns and cities, waiting to unlock their full potential for contributing to the country's recovery. The cultural, economic, and social impact they can have is immense. Here's hoping the government and industry recognize the incredible opportunity they present. This article helps to understand why!

2 days in Aberystwyth for creucymru.com conference. It is always a great reminder of the passion that underscores the performing arts sector in Wales It's been a difficult year, in fact a difficult few years. funding for Arts in Wales has dropped by 27% since 2010 and the impact is being felt deeply by artists, organisations and communities. Amongst the empathetic conversations about difficult decisions to cut provision, reductions in operating hours and losing staff it can sometimes be hard to know where to look for hope and possibility. But there is. Wales is in a unique position to lead. We already do. From Cultural wellbeing as a core pillar of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act to www.hynt.co.uk leading the way for Accessibility across the UK. The evidence relating to the benefits of investment in arts and culture for a healthier, happier more prosperous nation is undenianle. As is the contribution made by the people I have been sitting with for the last 48 hours make on a daily basis. We can't run on passion alone.

Our latest report takes a deep look into the state of civic health in Australia, at a time where both public trust and social cohesion are in significant decline. A review of several important reports in this space, our aim is to help readers understand this decline and how they can contribute to the regeneration of a thriving civic life. Read here 👉 https://buff.ly/4brChjP #australianleadership #civichealth

In recent days, many of us have questioned our travel plans and events, checked in with colleagues and friends, and second-guessed where we go and what we do—all while trying to avoid violence and verbal abuse. The mental load is considerable. Even when the initial burst of protests and demonstrations subsides, we continue to worry about the coming months. We ask ourselves: Which events require late-night travel? Which take us to isolated places or recent 'hotspots' of unrest? This mental load is something that people of Black and Asian backgrounds face every day, both in their personal and professional lives. These calculations are not new to us—they are part of our daily reality. I hope that the occasional spotlight on these issues doesn't fade with the next news cycle. We must strive to build a society where people of all backgrounds, religions, and colors can live and work in safety and harmony. Archana Shastri Pravinder Singh

Our monthly series Conversations with the CEO continues below with RANSW CEO Tracey Callinan reflecting on how the arts can promote social cohesion. Sign up to the Regional Arts NSW newsletter to get future Conversations with the CEO straight to your inbox, and visit https://lnkd.in/dpSGwegh for the Conversations Archive. Recent events in Australia have highlighted the fractured nature of some of Australia’s social systems. I don’t have rose tinted glasses about the extent to which the arts can impact social cohesion; there are a range of support systems that that need to be addressed and the art is not the first port of call. Despite this, we have a part to play, and a part that works differently to the interventions that need to happen across so many other sectors. In the arts we interpret, we tell stories, we persuade. We can change people’s opinions. I concede that there are times when the arts strays into personal campaigns centered on uninformed opinion, but for the most part I see examples across all art-forms that enable us to understand more about the stories that need to be told, the positions that need to be shared. The arts is one of the best vehicles for truth-telling. When done well it can elicit a level of empathy because of the way the arts presents different positions. Read more at https://lnkd.in/dfPeUf8s

Should the Arts Sector be a delivery agent for the new government's 5 Missions (see below)? That appears to be what Arts Council England is positioning the sector as. I believe such a strategy involves big risks: An "Instrumentalist" approach (where art only exists to serve a (political) purpose) risks replacing the principle of arms-length funding with vassal funding. Were that to happen, artists become delivery agents of the state, and audiences become whomsoever the government wants them to be. At this transformative moment in UK history, doesn't the sector more than ever need strong voices advocating for artistic freedom, and for excellence being the driver of new audiences? * The 5 missions are: Kickstart economic growth, Make Britain a clean energy superpower, Reduce violent crime, Reform childcare & education, and Fix the NHS.

What Should the Minister of Education Do for the Arts? Join the discussion as we explore the role of the Minister of Education and Culture in supporting the arts. Discover the importance of providing opportunities for education and fostering support for artists. Together, let's find ways to promote art and creativity in our society. #EducationForArts #SupportingArtists #MinisterialResponsibilities #ArtPromotion #CultureAndEducation #OpportunitiesInArts #SupportingCreativity #ArtisticDevelopment #EducationMatters #ArtsIntegration

#ListeningSession 6 - GCF’s President and CEO, Matthew Randazzo and Chief Impact Officer, Rasheda Malcolm-Cromwell hosted an open forum with organizations in the arts and culture sector that enrich our region through creative endeavors, employment and arts education. During the conversation, attendees expressed a clear need for more funding and support for staffing and operations. Additional takeaways include a desire for more artists to be at the decision-making table, better access to boardrooms and private sector spaces, and greater recognition of the positive effects the arts have on our regional economy. How do you think we can best serve our region’s artists and cultural institutions? What opportunities do the arts bring to the region and how can we ensure these opportunities persist?

Exciting news from Ireland! The Arts Council has doubled its funding to €134 million for 2024, a remarkable increase from pre-pandemic levels. This boost was promised in 2017 and reflects a growing commitment to arts and culture. Emergency financial aid and proactive engagements through the Government’s Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce have driven the increase, transforming what was initially considered 'fiscal gimmickry' into a winning strategy. Traditional Arts are flourishing, with the Council preparing a new policy and conducting public surveys to shape the future of this sector. A significant step towards a more permanent support system for Irish arts and culture. #ArtsFunding #IrelandArtsCouncil #SupportTheArts Exciting news from Ireland! The Arts Council has doubled its funding to €134 million for 2024, a remarkable increase from pre-pandemic levels. This boost was promised in 2017 and reflects a growing commitment to arts and culture. Emergency financial aid and proactive engagements through the Government’s Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce have driven the increase, transforming what was initially considered 'fiscal gimmickry' into a winning strategy. Traditional Arts are flourishing, with the Council preparing a new policy and conducting public surveys to shape the future of this sector. A significant step towards a more permanent support system for Irish arts and culture. #ArtsFunding #IrelandArtsCouncil #SupportTheArts https://lnkd.in/gYnURiRp

#CulturalLandTrust - a great idea cities everywhere should support and learn from, as arts and culture organizations fight for survival, and space, in places dominated by exclusionary market pressures. #Mayors take note of the progress, and continued precarity, arts & culture org's are facing - creatively, legally and financially - in BC. https://lnkd.in/gisBvtcc