HN Research: Creative Cafe Toolkit by North West Museums Federation

Arts and Health in Greater Manchester

Creative CafĂŠ Report and Toolkit

Wigan, August 2008

Contents Page Report

3-7

Toolkit Appendix 1 - Artist Specification

Appendix 2 – Practical Decisions

Appendix 3 – Goody Bags

Appendix 4 – Volunteer Requirements

Appendix 5 - Alcohol Postcard Feedback Information

Appendix 6 - Creative Café Feedback

Appendix 7 – Costings

Appendix 8 – Artwork Examples

Contact details: For further information about this project please contact either Anne Crabtree, Greater Manchester Arts and Health Coordinator on 01942 486925 or email anne.crabtree@wlct.org or Cath Foxon, Health Development Officer at Ashton Leigh and Wigan PCT on 01942 481720 email cath.foxon@alwpct.nhs.uk The toolkit is available to download from www.wlct.org/gmahn

Creative Café Report and Toolkit REPORT Strategic and Greater Manchester Context Arts and Health activities and projects in Greater Manchester sit within a wider framework of national arts and health polices. Arts Council England’s (ACE) National framework The arts , health and wellbeing with it’s partner report A prospectus for arts and health published jointly by ACE and the Department of Health advocate that the arts have an important part to play in improving the health and wellbeing of people in many ways. Greater Manchester Arts and Health Network (GMAHN) are working towards a shared approach across all ten Greater Manchester Local Authorities focusing on the wellbeing agenda which has commonality between the Health Sector and Local Authorities and has shared targets through Local Area Agreements. This focus on tackling health inequalities provides a clear structure for Local Authority Arts Officers and their partner health organisations to develop new projects and joint approaches through a comprehensive action plan funded through the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and Arts Council England North West. The development of a creative refreshment break activity through the Creative Café project strategically links in to Making it Possible: improving mental health and well-being in England, Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP), which identifies the need to raise public awareness of the steps to positive mental health. The positive steps specifically include “doing something creative” – which this project addresses. Participation in creative and cultural activities also addresses another five of the12 steps i.e. “valuing yourself and others”, “talking about your feelings”, “getting involved and making a contribution”, “learning new skills” and “taking a break” The Creative Café project was developed by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT) in partnership with Ashton Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust (ALW PCT) as part of the GMAHN action plan to demonstrate how creativity impacts on health agendas and health inequalities. The café model was developed to enable the choice of health focus and arts activities to be flexible so that the project could be adapted for use across Greater Manchester. The project also provided an opportunity to link to celebratory participation events developed through the Greater Manchester alcohol project The BoozeBuzz. Aims of the project • To engage Arts Development and PCT staff through festivals to develop joint working towards health inequalities • To building relationships and understanding of each others agendas (Arts, health, cross district) • To influence local authority policy development and delivery on the health agenda through festivals and celebratory events • To engage local communities in creative activities as a means of encouraging mental wellbeing • To engage local communities in enjoyable activities which provide information about health inequalities • To raise the profile of arts and health activities and develop a model for use across Greater Manchester • To foster district arts and health involvement in local festivals

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To link to current Greater Manchester Arts and Health projects

Health inequalities and partnership working Wigan Borough has some very difficult healthy problems to tackle, with life expectancy differing by up to 7 years between some wards. There are many people who live unhealthy lifestyles here and our task in Public Health is to help to deliver a range of services to improve health and reduce the inequalities. Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust has set itself 6 priorities to work on for the next 5 years and 3 of these are directly addressed by the Creative Café. The activities around food, healthy eating and alcohol help to address cancer mortality rates, cardiovascular disease mortality and obesity. Some of the different health teams in the PCT were able to support the creative activities by offering advice and information on a range of health issues and by giving fruit and making smoothies. It was an important way to show that health can be fun and that there are ways to engage people creatively in lifestyle issues. Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust context Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Arts and Festivals team manage and programme a number of community festivals in the Borough during the summer. One of the main roles of the Arts Development Officer (Community Engagement) is to work with Leigh communities and develop art events that provide opportunities for community engagement. This work also contributed to Goal 8 of the Wigan Community Plan: increasing participation in community and cultural activities. Hot on the Square in Leigh is a three day festival that has been taking place for the last 5 years, and is an opportunity for local community performance groups to showcase their work alongside professional acts. It takes place during the school holidays, so attracts a large number of families. Following on from Hot on the Square is Leigh Multicultural Festival, which is now in its second year. This attracts a larger audience with it taking place on a Saturday. The Primary Care Trust’s (PCT) Food and Health team was approached to explore ways in which existing events in the Borough could be utilised to create engagement opportunities. This was a new partnership for the Food and Health Team and the Arts and Festivals Team, which would see a visual arts element added to the festival, with positive health messages being filtered through. The aim was to develop a model that fostered new dialogue between the Local Authority arts and PCT health professionals to develop joint working towards health inequalities at celebratory events. The project aimed to provide a platform for cross district links by inviting artists engaged in arts and health projects from other districts in Greater Manchester to take part in the Creative Café. This outdoor ‘creative refreshment’ area provided a café format of tables for short creative activities (visual art) which were table top based. The creative activities were designed to be easily replicated and visually stimulating. The art works were taken home by participants as a reminder of a health message and were also used to decorate the café. The activities aimed to engage children and families (age 4 plus) with a minimum choice of 3 activities each day. A number of ‘goody bags’ with health promotion and creative activity sheets, bottles of water and fruit were also available to give out during the festival and for participants to take home.

The health inequalities that the activities focused on were healthy eating, healthy hearts wellbeing (Mental health) and alcohol (aimed primarily at adults). The artists developed the following activities: Debra Tracey - tackling obesity (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) Making ‘eat well plate’ place mats using glue sticks, paper shapes or coloured markers. These laminated colourful A4 table mats introduced the 5 main food groups so that children could identify a food group they liked in each one. Chanje Kunda – Mental wellbeing (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) Count your blessings, valuing yourself and others through text art / collage. People chose something positive about themselves or something in their life that they liked and created a collage of the text using foil, tissue, and glitter to remind them of what makes them feel good. Rene Lumley – Healthy eating / physical activity (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) Artwork based on paper flags linked to a healthy eating theme creating decorative pennants for the café area using stickers, pens and decorative lettering. Neo Heny – Alcohol (Booze Buzz) (Saturday) The original consultation for the Booze Buzz involved asking professional people to leave a ‘Message in a Bottle’ on a luggage tag about their thoughts and feelings about alcohol use and consumption that we then hung on a tree branch at the event. This activity was adapted by cutting bottle shapes out of coloured card and asking (older) participants to leave a message on a bottle about drinking or alcohol or younger children to decorate with feathers and pens and glitter paints. Bottles were then strung like a garland around the café area. Feedback postcards were also completed with adults. (see appendix 5) Feedback summary The Creative Café artists delivered over 445 visual arts activities primarily with children and families over the 3 days (8 hours total contact time). The activities were on average between 10 and 20 minutes each and involved both meaningful discussion of health issues and wonderful creative expression. This created a welcoming and creative atmosphere in the café. The range of activities proved to be popular with both girls and boys alike and some children engaged not only in every activity, but came back every day. The wider engagement with the festival audience through giving out goody bags, fruit and water was also an important element of the project and linked well with the Food and Health team and Health Trainers. The Fruit Machine game delivered by Squash Nutrition at the Saturday event received universal praise from the 293 children and family members who played it and took a ‘fruit salad pot’ away to eat. Decorating the café as a gallery with the artwork provided an extra visual element to the café and was popular with participants who were proud to have their artwork displayed before they took it home. The Creative Café provided positive health messages around public health issues in a creative and lively setting. The children and families benefited from the arts activities in terms of their mental wellbeing by making a creative contribution, taking a break and expressing their feelings. The Café also provided an opportunity for the artists involved to develop their arts and health practice through collaborative working within a community festival setting.

Cath Foxon, Health Development Officer “The event was a great success and showed how good health can be experienced in a fun and creative way. It was such a good experience to work in real partnership.” Karen Mitchinson, Food and Health Team Co-ordinator “The overall feedback from the public was very positive, they were willing to try the fruit and smoothie tasting, and encouraged their children to take part in the activities. The sunny weather, the entertainers, the activities and tasting made the day very informal and relaxed and because of this people were not afraid to come up to our stand and ask questions about food and healthy eating and ask for information to take home with them.” Chanje Kunda, Creative café artist “I just wanted to say thank you for allowing me to be part of such a positive event. It was really fantastic. I thought that the music and performances were fantastic, such a wide variety of music from all over the world and such a high standard of delivery. Also the fruit was lovely and I felt healthier myself just being a part of it. It was a real great thing that you did for the people of Wigan and Leigh.” Neo Heny, Creative café artist “Thank you so much for the opportunity to work at the Creative Cafe in Leigh combining major passions and interests of mine - healthy food and lifestyle and arts and creativity! We were truly blessed with the good weather and the atmosphere on the day was very positive. Thank you again.” Participants “The healthy eating plates made them realise how rigid their eating habits are and how they favour certain food groups” “It made me think about healthy food for tea” “Good – learned things. Lovely way to promote health and better way of life” “Playing game – great idea. My son doesn’t usually eat fruit, this was fun” Recommendations for Transferable uses The Creative Café model was developed to be flexible, so that it can be used in a variety of settings, as a stand alone or as part of a larger event, delivered by either Health or Arts professionals and partnerships. This flexibility also extends to the arts activities and the health focus which can be varied as required. The ‘creative café’ activities are relatively low cost and can be adapted to involve greater or lesser numbers of artists as required. The advantages of being part of a larger event are reflected in the numbers who engaged with the activities in Leigh. The following are just a few suggestions as to how the model could be adapted: • • • • • •

As a creative Wellbeing Café focusing on mental health or linked to specific events such as World mental Health day As part of a focus on a specific health issue such as immunization, heart disease To target a specific group e.g. men, carers, young people To link with a specific art form e.g. Creative Writing festival or event As part of community celebration events led by voluntary sector organisations As part of school activities or out of school clubs

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As part of Arts Networking events or Health conferences As a launch event/opening or linked to a Ministerial visit As an early years event e.g. through Sure Start Children’s centres As part of community based healthy eating courses As part of cultural celebration events

TOOLKIT Appendix 1: Arts and Health Festival project - Artist Specification Wigan Leisure Culture Trust is developing a pilot arts and health project through a local community festival in Leigh which will take place in July 2008. The project will be developed as a model for engaging the community across Greater Manchester in creative activities linked to health inequalities and wellbeing. The festival activities take place in Leigh at Hot on the Square on 23, 24, 25 July and a linked Multicultural Festival on Sat 26th July. This project is looking for artists to engage for 3 of these days 24th, 25th and 26th July (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) from 12 – 2pm on 24th and 25th and from 12 - 4pm on 26th July. Leigh has a long history of festivals. Hot on the Square has been family orientated days to watch local and international performance groups, as well as take part in arts activity. Leigh Multicultural Festival is now in its second year, celebrating the diversity in the town. This attracts larger numbers with a bigger artistic programme. Both festivals take place at Leigh Civic Square outside of the Town Hall and Leigh Library / Turnpike Gallery. The anticipated visitor numbers are about 400 for each week day afternoon and 1,500 – 2,000 on Saturday 26th. An outdoor ‘creative refreshment’ café area (indoor alternative available) called ‘Xpress Creative Café’ will provide a café format of tables for short creative activities (preferably visual art) which can be done on a table top. The creative activities need to be either easily be replicated at home, can be used to decorate the café or can be taken home as a reminder of a health message. The activities will aim to engage children and families (age 4 plus) and there will be a minimum choice of 3 activities each day. A number of ‘goody bags’ with health promotion and creative activity sheets will be available for participants to take home. The health inequalities the activities will focus on are: 1) healthy eating (Obesity issues) 2) healthy hearts (Coronary Heart Disease) 3) wellbeing (Mental health). 4) alcohol (aimed primarily at adults) - though an existing GM cross district project Wigan Arts and Festival team would like to invite Arts Officers from Greater Manchester districts to suggest artists from their district preferably linked to existing Arts and Health project delivery that Wigan could approach for the café. 3 artists in total are required to suggest activities linked to a chosen health issue from the first three inequalities above. This is also open for suggestions for Wigan artists. Artist requirements: • professional artist, must be experienced in engaging with communities (children and families) through arts about potentially sensitive issues and be able to work in partnership • suitable art form to make something on a table top in approximately 20 mins from inexpensive readily available materials safe and suitable for age 4 plus and adults (this is intended to be a family activity) • art form suitable to create something to decorate the café or incorporate a health message so artwork becomes a unique and personal health promotion message

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provide variations in the art activity as many participants will come back each day knowledge of health inequalities and health messages around healthy eating, healthy hearts or mental health/wellbeing links to an Arts and Health project in one of GM districts or cross district available over all 3 dates

• • • •

willing to produce a short A4 worksheet of the activity to be used as a handout have £5 million Public Liability Insurance as artists will not be left on their own with participants and parents will be expected to stay with children a current CRB is not essential but is desirable purchase own materials (budget will be provided)

Fee (for artists delivering over 3 days only) £100 for 2 hour session x 2 24th July, 25th July (includes prep & travel) £175 for 4 hour session Saturday 26th July (includes preparation & travel) £100 for 2 meetings – planning (before) and evaluation (after)- (includes travel) Materials – additional funding of £100 per artist for materials will be provided (total fee per artist- £475 plus £100 materials) Selection Artists will be selected on the best mix of different health inequalities, the mix of activities proposed and suitability for a café style format, the mix of districts involved, the strongest links to Arts in Health projects and the potential for future developments. This information can be sent to your selected artists who should then provide the following by email: • A brief (max 1 side A4) expression of interest describing what activity they propose, what health inequality this links to and how this links with their other arts in health activities in your district • A current C.V. • Confirm availability for the dates above • Contact details and send this to Samantha Dawson, Arts and Festival, Wigan Leisure Culture Trust, samantha.dawson@wlct.org by 5pm on Wednesday 4th June Timetable • Brief sent out to District Arts Officer by AC –by 11.30 am Wed 21st May for GMAHN Steering Group final approval • Brief circulated to district Arts Officers by noon Friday 23rd May by Sam Dawson – for artists suggestions • Information from artists selected sent by 5p.m. 4th June to Sam Dawson • Decision made by 9th June- artists and Arts Officers notified by email by 10th June • Artist briefing meeting– date tbc (wk beg 16th June) • Delivery – 24, 25, 26th July • Evaluation meeting – end July / 1st week August 08 or could be later

Appendix 2: Practical decisions Once the initial concept and the artistic content of the Creative Café are confirmed, practical decisions then need to be made. It is important not to underestimate how long this will take. If there is an Events Manager for the event where your Creative Café will be, then run all of the practical elements of the café past them first. Practical decisions that were made for the Creative Café in Leigh include the choice of tables and chairs, layout, display opportunities, give-aways, goodie bags, access to electricity / water, feedback you require. Tables and chairs The Creative Café in Leigh was an outdoor event so outdoor patio style furniture was most practical. This was lightweight and also could be cleaned after art activities. An important consideration was storage. If furniture is being stored overnight then a space is required. Tables with removable legs were hired, along with patio chairs. The art activity taking place may dictate what tables you select. Layout In order to create a Creative Café, the small round tables with chairs was decided to create a café feel. Our position on Leigh Civic Square was partly decided because power was required, so we were close to the Turnpike Centre. It was also an area that was shaded by trees, which also provided the opportunity to hang artworks and a banner. Each artist had a table for their materials, and a table was also used for the goodie bags. In total 10 tables and 40 chairs were used for the café in Leigh. Display opportunities Working with four artists created an opportunity for the café to be decorated with examples of art works produced by the artists and some of the participants. Depending on the space that you have to work in, there may be trees to hang art works on, railings, or walls. If a space needs to be cordoned off, this is an opportunity to display work. Crash barriers were used to contain the café area on the busiest day of the festival, in order that there was a clear thoroughfare for people to access the Library and Gallery. The crash barriers were covered in fabric and then art works were displayed on them, created walls to the café. Give-aways and goody bags Festivals are a great opportunity to give out selected useful information about the services your organisation has to offer. The Food and Health team and Arts and Festivals team decided on four leaflets to be provided in each goodie bag. In addition to this, two of the artists had provided a worksheet for people to take away with them, so that the art activities could be replicated at home. Knowsley Primary Care Trust gave permission for their arts and health activity worksheets to be part of the goodie bags being given away. Bottles of water, bananas and apples were also in the goody bag, which made the bags more appealing for people to take away with them. If you consider giving away fruit, think about hygiene when storing it outside and access to running water if it needs washing. Goody bags were also an effective way to attract people into the Creative Café area. Staff and a volunteer offered people goodie bags while watching performances, which raised awareness of free activities on offer. Access to electricity Artists may require electricity for their activity. One of the artists at the Leigh event required a laminator to make the healthy eating place mats. If you are holding the event outdoors and

require electricity, this may determine where you position the café, ie: near a building to access their power supply. The Food and Health team from Ashton Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust required a power supply for blenders to make smoothies. It is advised that you check with artists and any other partners involved in your Creative Café, if they require electricity and who will supply power breakers. Feedback Consider what feedback you would like from the event / activities. Three main questions were asked at the Creative Café in Leigh, which had to be recorded in a simple and quick way. Staff took an active role in writing people’s answers down on to post it notes, which resulted in a lot of feedback and comments from participants. All of the post it notes were displayed in the café area.

Appendix 3: Goody Bags Arts activity sheet samples for goody bags (small brown carrier bag with 15 activity arts/health activity sheets, 4 health leaflets, bottle of water, and piece of fruit) Sample Arts Activity - please do not use without permission of WLCT and Artist.

Creative Takeaway Arts and games activity sheets to use at home, with friends or in school

Count Your Blessings Time: Equipment:

45 Minutes 1 piece of scrap paper 1 Piece of Paper or Card for best (Large if possible) A Pencil Some Glue Glitter (pack of glitter with different colours if Possible)

Method: 1. Make a list of the names of your friends and family and/ or List the people who love you or care about you. (this can be one name, two names or as many as you like) 2. Chose up to Five names 3. Get your piece of paper for best and use bubble writing to fill the page with their names in large letters 4. Put glue over one name and sprinkle with glitter and then shake off the extra glitter 5. Put glue over another name and sprinkle with glitter ( a different colour if you have it) 6. Repeat Step 4 and five until you have done all the 5 names in glitter 7. If you like you can do a glitter border to the paper by putting glue around the edge of the paper and sprinkling with glitter 8. Put it up on you wall or keep it somewhere safe. Every time you feel sad or lonely, look at it shining and remember that you are loved and cared for by that person or those people With thanks to artists Chanje Kunda for Count Your Blessings and Debra Tracey for the Eatwell Placemat

Appendix 4: Volunteer brief Wigan Leisure Culture Trust – Arts and Festivals Team Arts and Health Festival project Wigan Leisure Culture Trust is developing a pilot arts and health project through a local community festival in Leigh which will take place in July 2008. The project will be developed as a model for engaging the community across Greater Manchester in creative activities linked to health inequalities and wellbeing. The festival activities take place in Leigh at Hot on the Square on 23rd, 24th, 25th July and a linked Multicultural Festival on Saturday 26th July. This project is looking for volunteers who will support the artists on 24th, 25th and 26th July (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) from 12 – 2pm on 24th and 25th and from 12 - 4pm on 26th July. Leigh has a long history of festivals. Hot on the Square has been family orientated days to watch local and international performance groups, as well as take part in arts activity. Leigh Multicultural Festival is now in its second year, celebrating the diversity in the town. This attracts larger numbers with a bigger artistic programme. Both festivals take place at Leigh Civic Square outside of the Town Hall and Leigh Library / Turnpike Gallery. The anticipated visitor numbers are about 400 for each week day afternoon and 1,500 – 2,000 on Saturday 26th July. An outdoor ‘creative refreshment’ café area called ‘Creative Café’ will provide a café format of tables for short creative activities (preferably visual art) which can be done on a table top. The creative activities that have been selected will be either easily be replicated at home, can be used to decorate the café or can be taken home as a reminder of a health message. The activities will aim to engage children and families (age 4 plus) and there will be a minimum choice of 3 activities each day. A number of ‘goody bags’ with health promotion and creative activity sheets will be available for participants to take home. The health inequalities the activities will focus on are: 1) healthy eating (Obesity issues) 2) healthy hearts (Coronary Heart Disease) 3) wellbeing (Mental health). 4) alcohol (aimed primarily at adults) Three artists will be working on the 24th and 25th July and four artists will be working on Saturday 26th July. Additional activities and information will be provided by health staff making fruit smoothies or providing health information on Thursday and Friday and a healthy ‘fruit machine’ game on Saturday. Volunteer requirements • To support one particular artist with setting up at the start of the festival • To take part in the artist’s activity to demonstrate to children and families what they can take part in. The examples can be displayed on the tables or hung around the café area. • Assist the artist to prepare for making items, for example, cutting out shapes, making structures for kite making, helping to laminate images, etc. • Support the artist to clear the area and pack away materials.

Expenses Travel expenses will be reimbursed and lunch will be provided on Saturday 26th July. Contact us If you are interested in volunteering at any or all of the days that the Creative Café will be open during Hot on the Square and Leigh Multicultural Festival, then please get in touch. Please confirm the dates that you are available for and your contact details …………………………

Appendix 5: Alcohol postcard feedback comments from adults at Leigh Festival Creative Cafe What are your top 3 What do you believe has the Who or what do you most impact on adults believe has the most suggestions for a safe, drinking habits and is there impact on young social and more sensible a social pressure to drink people’s drinking drinking culture? alcohol? habits? I think there is definitely a social pressure for young adults yes

Peer pressure

Make non alcoholic drinks more attractive