Many health crises are also environment crises. Obesity and diabetes are directly related to industrial processed food and monocultural farming. Poor mental health is related to individualism and consumerism. Health is bound up in the various Government Climate Change strategies (eg diet) where action on climate is also action on human health. Another key area is greenspace where human health benefits align with climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland (ACHWS) next event on Fri 23 September 2022, 2pm – 4.15pm, focuses on the relationship between arts & culture, health & wellbeing, and the climate crisis. They will scope out multiple connections with the help of three presentations: 

• Presentation by Ben Twist, Director, Creative Carbon Scotland and Lauren Duffy, artist, RIG Arts  on the Clyde Rebuilt project which focused on climate change adaptation and in particularly urban heat. RIG Arts, one of three arts organisations involved in this Glasgow City Region EU funded adaptation project, highlighted the health and social dimensions, enabling local engagement with the issues through activities including creating zines;

• Martin Johnston, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s Head of Sustainability and Jackie Sands Public Health Improvement Senior: Arts and Health will discuss the #netcarbonzero challenge from an NHS Board perspective (buildings, energy, food, transport, travel, waste, greenspace);

• Victoria Hume of the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance will present on their Climate Award, why they introduced it and what sorts of things it has highlighted.

Jean Cameron who is Executive Producer on the Culture Summit 2022 will MC this event. With lots of opportunities for discussion the event will open up the issues and show how the arts and culture have a key role to play.

Participants in the event will gain:

• An overview of the challenges for the health sector, in this case NHS Boards

• Examples of asset led arts projects which demonstrate collaboration with both health and environment professionals/expertise

• New contacts in arts, health and environment and a better understanding of collaborative approaches

ACHWS will get a better understanding of what future policy and research might be relevant and test the relevance of some form of special interest group to provide advice and examples to the membership.

Register on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/arts-culture-health-wellbeing-climate-tickets-406256232327. Please contact Lauren Blair at VHS with any questions about this event: Lauren.Blair@vhscotland.org.uk