Wednesday 17 February 9:30am to 1pm The Hub Erina Youth … Knowledge... · 2016-02-16 · Gosford City Council Regional Forum 17 February 2016 1 KNOWLEDGE, SERVICE & VISIBILITY in

Gosford City Council Regional Forum 17 February 2016

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KNOWLEDGE, SERVICE & VISIBILITY in ART AND HEALTH:

A forum with/for Central Coast cultural practitioners

Wednesday 17 February 9:30am to 1pm

The Hub Erina Youth Entertainment Venue

TIME NAME TITLE 9:40 Karen Adler The Art of Recovery. 9:50 David Keig A strategic approach to measuring wellbeing. 10:00 Kevin

Duncan & Kenny Braun

Art and Health from an Aboriginal perspective.

10:10 Rosemary Blundo

Notions of Space and Energy in the delivery of art services.

10:20 Michelle Cuneo

Making Connections is Good for Your Well-Being - How the ‘connectedness’ of theatre created an academy for emerging artists with disabilities.

10:30 Debra Landsdowne & Elise McCallum

Dance & Art as Transformational Medicine

10:40 Gypsy Artemis

Cradle to the Grave: one artist's perspective.

10:50 Lou Sawilejskij & Rendra Freestone

The Rhythm Hut: welcoming alternative healing and the benefits of a community space.

11:00 Fiona Simpson

Establishing a base for the network of Art and Health

11:10 Ecopatty & Karen

A “forest of tranquillity” to dream new possibilities

11:20 Sharon Aldrick

Building resilience and wellbeing through the Arts

11:30 Rhonda Wilson

Supporting art practice in a medical field. The experience of ARAFMI.

11:40 Evan Lawrie Musicians making a difference


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Karen Adler

Bio Karen Adler is a Transpersonal Art Therapist, an artist, writer, curator and researcher. She is a firm believer in the inherent healing qualities of the Arts. She has run art therapy workshops for the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction, self-harming beh aviour and eating disorders, for people seeking to bring about positive change in their lives and for health professionals working with trauma as a result of the 2011 floods and cyclone in Queensland. She uses Art Therapy to help in the resolution of her own life difficulties and is continually surprised and delighted by the insight it brings. She has also been using journalling for most of my adult life - first as a traveller in the world and now, more often, for inner exploration and understanding. Her aim in working with others is to enable people to reconnect with their own wisdom, power and truth and to build their lives based on self-knowledge.

Syn The Art of Recovery: I view The Recovery Movement as an extremely potent social and historical phenomenon which has profound implications for society in general and for Arts and Health in particular. Many people in recovery, regardless of whether it be from addictions and/or mental illness diagnoses, go on to become advocates for change in the medical and political systems. The arts - creative writing, poetry, storytelling, documentaries, movies, visual arts - provide ways for people to both understand their ‘illness’ and to educate others. I believe we’re at a turning point in regard to what is viewed as viable and effective treatment and also as preventative medicine for addictions, mental illness and for health in general. If we disallow the validity and effectiveness of qualitative research and base decisions re. Funding of health programs on evidence-based treatment alone, much of which disallows or devalues qualitative research, we do a disservice to patients who would benefit greatly from arts/health related treatment.


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David Keig

Bio David Keig spent 30 years in marketing and advertising. His career was cut short by mental illness 10 years ago. After years of therapy he's come out the other end - older but wiser. He is now applying his experience to the area of art and culture and combining it with new skills in, for example, social media. In both personal and professional terms, he is committed to the mental health and art programme and will do all he can to help make it succeed.

Syn I am excited by this initiative and I do believe that its success can be monitored and measured. I have been involved in many social marketing programmes before – chief amongst them the Drug Offensive, the Disability Services Programme and SBS research into attitudes to multi-culturalism and immigration. What I have learned in all of this is that it’s important to distinguish between what you can measure directly and what you have to measure indirectly. Now this is the key to what I am going to propose. Though similar these two objectives are really quite different: 1) we want more of the community participating in the arts 2) we want art therapy to be used more when a mental illness is diagnosed – whether in hospital or elsewhere in the medical system. So that is the baseline of what we need to measure. We already have it – the K10 questionnaire which is the basic measure for those receiving medical treatment. So, if we have a cut down version of that for the broader community we will have both a measure of mental health and consistency of measurement across the community and in the medical system. We then correlate this with arts and art therapy participation and we have our model and methodology for measurement. This will require two things: 1) community-wide surveys – overall changes will need to be indicated by regular annual surveys – change will be gradual 2) collection and collation of all patients in hospital based mental health treatment that continuously tracks individual K10 outcomes and participation in art therapy. As I said at the beginning I find this exciting. We can now really measure the value of the arts and justify the aims of the initiative and the programmes that we will all, together, put in place.


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Kevin Duncan

Bio Tribal Group- Gomilaroi, Mandandanji, Awaba My Traditions with my artwork stems from my country and my connections through my Ancestors and my people. I started painting at the age of 13 years old I had grown up listening to stories passed down from my Grandfather and Grand Mother, my Mum, Dad, Aunties, Uncles and many of my Aboriginal elders throughout my life and in my community. These stories are important in the continuation of our cultural Knowledge and customs and our spiritual beliefs to keep our culture strong and passing the knowledge on generation after generation. To be one with Mother Earth is to be one in Spirit, Mind and Body is to be whole in life itself. Since 1973 Kevin was commissioned many group and solo exhibitions and Art work presentations along well over 30 mural works throughout Central Coast Region and State wide.

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Rosemary Blundo

Bio Rosemary is currently employed as a creative arts therapist with CCLHD, working in the field of Eating Disorders. She has training in Art Therapy and Dance Movement Therapy, Body Focused Counselling, BrainGym, Storytelling and Drama Co-created Arts for Health with T. Davids in 2003 and their programs were offered at a Invitation To Health in Wyoming. Formerly a stage and TV actress in the 1980s. She has a long association with Central Desert Aboriginal Art, having worked as an assistant Art-coordinator for Warlukurlangu Artists of Yuendumu. She has a multi-cultural and multi-lingual heritage, has been a language teacher in the private school system, K to 12 and is a qualified conference interpreter and translator with over 25 years of experience in the field of health and environment.

Syn This presentation will focus on two elements and two time frames: Space and Energy, Present and Future. Health and the Arts have each their own culture and whilst they share the same goals of caring, curing and increasing wellbeing, the Energy that they emanate is different. When Space is dedicated to one Energy nothing compromises its integrity. Both these elements are central to the practice of Health and the Arts. Hospitals and other Health spaces today only have sprinkles of Art energy and the community abounds of scattered Art energy without a dedicated Space. From this perspective I will attempt to explore how the Arts and Health can effectively cohabitate and better complement one another in the service of their community.


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Michelle Cuneo

Bio Michelle Cuneo has been engaged in performance, arts education and arts journalism. She has been a choreographer, director, theatrical agent, published arts critic, university lecturer and even a nightclub promoter. She has worked for leading companies including Sydney Dance Co, Dance Europe, Dance Australia & UTS. She is currently Executive Director of Options Theatre Company & Australian National Academy of Disability Arts (ANADA) based in West Gosford. Michelle holds a Masters Degree in Communications as well as a range of qualifications to post-graduate level in Arts, Marketing, Dance Education, Recreation & Leisure Management. Michelle has been recognised for her contribution to Arts, Culture & Entertainment locally with an Australia Day Award from Gosford Council.

Syn Making Connections is Good for Your Well-Being - How the ‘connectedness’ of theatre created an academy for emerging artists with disabilities. Options Theatre Company is a disability theatre company that makes artistic connections to people, places, ideas and LIFE. It enhances the wellbeing of its members by focusing on aptitudes that can be improved by training and that are necessary to the rewarding life. The momentum of this successful project kick started Australian National Academy of Disability Arts (ANADA) which focuses not on conventional ‘academy’ based training, but on the concept of engaging through connection to multiple intelligences, and poses the question – can health, happiness and art be better improved by academic success or renegade artistic spirit?


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Debra Landsdowne & Elise McCallum

Bio Debra Landsdowne is a Registered Nurse 25 plus yrs with extensive experience across many areas of the health sector eg

o Public & Private hospital system in several states o Community Nursing: in Remote Area & Palliative Care Specialist o Community Service Co-ordinator: in Aged Care & Disabilities services, Dementia &

Respite care Currently P/T Practice Nurse in a GP Practice supporting clients on a weight loss

programs Previously qualified as Marketing Manager

o Health Promotion Co-ordinator: in the Corporate sector o Client Service & Strategic Planning Manager in the Pharmacuetical Industry

Adv. Diploma in Transpersonal Art Therapist /Counsellor Currently offers private counselling & art therapy sessions in the community

Accredited Dance Facilitator Currently running regular Dance and Art therapy classes on the central coast

and monthly Dance & Art therapy workshops on various themes in the community Writer (published articles) & Author

Currently completing a Book called “Journeys of the H’Art” that will be released later this year.

Elise McCallum has been involved in teaching and facilitating dance and movement for over 15 years. During this time, she has provided specialist programs in multiple primary schools, developed a dance movement therapy program at Glenvale School for children with special needs and run conscious dance/movement meditation classes for kids, teens and adults. To further support her work she have studied Dance Movement Therapy, Transpersonal Art Therapy, Counselling, Earth based Traditional Healing and has trained as a both a Dancing For Birth™ and Nia Technique Instructor. Elise creates gentle spaces for people to ‘come home’ to themselves through movement and creativity, honouring each person’s unique rhythm and journey. She has witnessed time and time again the power of dance and movement to nurture well-being and healing for the body, mind and spirit.

Syn Briefly explain that we have a conscious dance & movement network here on the coast. What conscious dance & movement therapy, how it works to support the body to heal? What is transpersonal art therapy? How conscious dance & transpersonal art can heal and transform our communities, when we make it available to the wider community to access. Share the benefits that have been already identified by community members, that have taken part in these therapies in our community How conscious dance & transpersonal art therapies are beneficial for all ages, all physical abilities or disabilities and inclusive of the full mental spectrum. If time allows a short exercise to end the session.


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Gypsy Artemis

Bio Gypsy is a drug and alcohol worker by trade, but after the birth of her first daughter in 2011, she transitioned into the role of business owner, building up 2 business. The first one, Pickled Tink, has and art focus, and the second, Sacred Hunger, has a ritual and ceremony focus. In 1997 Gypsy's life took a sharp right hand turn after she experienced a near death experience. This momentous event triggered her deep intrigue and interest in "End of Life". Ten years later her NDE served her well as she journeyed with her dying mother. Deeply dissatisfied with the way our culture does death and dying, in 2013 Gypsy took a leap of faith and started working with her community to change perceptions and experiences of death. She then studied Death Midwifery with Michael Barbato, delved into Women's Mysteries and Rites of Passage studies with the School of Shamanic Womancraft, and years later, is now merging arts and health promotion in many of the services she offers to the community.

Syn In Cradle to the Grave: one artists perspective, Gypsy will discuss the variety of services she provides, ranging from birth photography, breast memory casting and rites of passages for Mammas, to workshops on how to embrace ones mortality. She will present her vision for how End of Life could be done in our culture, and discuss the role each of us can play in positively influencing key rites of passage such as pregnancy, birth, menstruation, menopause and death.


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Lou Sawilejskij & Rendra Freestone

Bio With a background in visual arts, graphics and marketing, and a strong love for music

especially live music; Lou has been the general manager of The Rhythm Hut in Gosford for

the past 3 years. The Rhythm Hut is a not for profit community space that runs music

classes - specialising in drumming classes, and drumming workshops, but also running other

music classes such as didgeridoo, ukulele and vocal coaching. As well as hosting a range of

workshops, live music, open mic, venue hire, film screenings and much more, The Rhythm

Hut aims to foster and promote the arts in Gosford and on the Central Coast. Lou is also

involved in working with musicians and event promoters in running events with Art Party and

OneSpace in Sydney, band promotion and management, and putting on events all around

the state. Lou’s passion lies within the arts, and especially within connections within the arts

community: locally, nationally and internationally.

Rendra founded the Rhythm Hut almost 10 years ago, primarily as a rehearsal space for his

band Rhythm Hunters, and to meet the demand for Rendra to run drumming classes. The

Rhythm Hut slowly evolved to a space that held live music, and other events that were

welcomed within the community, and supported local music and the arts on a grass roots

level. Rendra remains the head drumming teacher at The Rhythm Hut, and the musical

director of Rhythm Hunters, a contemporary musical outfit combining music from Indonesia,

Japan and Australia. Cutting edge physical percussion, didgeridoo, western horns, Asian

flute, deep grooves and ethereal sound scapes. Rhythm Hunters performance highlights

include Woodford Folk Festival, Dreaming Festival, National Folk Festival & National Multicultural

Festival.

Syn If an apple a day can keep the doctor away, what are some of the health benefits of music, drumming and a community space? We explore the ways drumming, live music, and being a part of an inclusive and diverse society can heal both physically and mentally.


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Fiona Simpson

Bio Fiona Simpson has worked for 27 years in the roles of Arts, Community Development and Management in the Community Sector. During this time her roles have been as; Art teacher for children with special needs, Community Arts Coordinator, Community Development Coordinator for Wollondilly and Macarthur areas in mental health, Manager of home maintenance business for people with mental health, Art as therapy Coordinator for women who were sexually abused as children, Health Education Officer – Mental Health , Activity Officer for the aged and disabled, Community Development Coordinator for the homeless and now Manager of Kariong Neighbourhood Centre. She has a diploma’s in Fine Arts, Community services and Community Management and her trainer and assessor. Some of her achievements are: Setting up - Creative Arts Network, Brush with the Bush – an Art exhibition in a sanctuary, Coordinator of Kaleidoscope-the biggest Homeless Art exhibition, Woolloomooloo Festival, Underbridge Productions a multimedia group of homeless people filming their own stories, Kariong Festival.

Syn Fiona is passionate about bringing together the Community Services Sector and the Artists on the Central Coast. She believes through her own experiences that Art breaks down barriers between people, whilst they are creating people come together and feel part of their communities. Her vision is to setup Central Coast Arts and Culture Innovative Solutions Network She has set similar networks before in Wollondilly and Sydney so she knows it can work. She wants to establish a data base of all artists on the Central Coast identifying what artistic skills they have, what work they would like and skills they need to learn. Set-up 3 meetings over 12months to bring Artists and Community Service Providers together so that they can network and share ideas and resources. She will invite guest speakers to discuss topics such as; Project management, community arts ideas, grant application writing, working with the marginalised community, group facilitation processes, business enterprise and sustainable practices. There will be opportunities for people to share ideas about community needs how artists may meet these needs. By employing artists to; run workshops for people from diverse backgrounds eg; storytelling for the aged, art therapy for the mentally ill etc.


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Ecopatty, Emilia and Karen

Bio Over my working life I have developed an interest in “Co – Op Business Models”. Being involved in small business and as a new arrival on the Central Coast and now with a long established Iconic International Tourist Destination known locally as Forest of Tranquility (FOT). Our venue is a sanctuary for Australian Flora and Fauna with 5klms of Rainforest walks. Open Air Pergolas having visitors for about 30 years for Weddings, Events, School Excursions and our Annual Firefly Magic Festival in Nov/Dec. For many years I have been actively involved in community groups, events, festivals and installations with Gardening Australia, Royal Easter Show, Permaculture , BioDynamics , Farm Forestry , Native Plants, Bushcare, Landcare, Coastfest, St Albans Folk Festival, Folk in Broke, Vday, 5 Lands Walk, Floodfest. My passion is to see the Iconic International Destination of FOT continuing its education programs with a Co Op of Enterprises showcasing Holistic Management with Conservation, Creativity, Permaculture, Sustainability, Wellbeing, Arts & EcoTourism. A previous cabaret restaurant owner Emilia brings her passion and love for nature – food and sculpture to FOT with Seasonal monthly High Teas featuring Artist’s talk, Music & Sculpture. Karen our Creative Arts and Music Director as an artist, songwriter/musician provides music along with our Rainforest Explorers & Interactive Programs used by schools and visitors learning about Rainforests.

Syn A group of talented and multi skilled people have a vision to see the Forest of Tranquility a NSW Central Coast Iconic International Tourist Destination become a venue creating jobs in Conservation, Wellbeing, Permaculture and EcoTourism. Emilia brings her passion of Food, Sculpture and Fun to her seasonal High Teas with Artist’s talk, Music & Sculpture Trail.

Karen with experience and skills in Creative Art & Music is managing our Rainforest Explorers & Interactive Guides Programs.

With Art Therapy networks forming to collaborate and partner with traditional organisation for wellbeing service delivery in our region we take this opportunity to offer our venue as a space to use for creating wellbeing in Nature with Art.


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Sharon Aldrick

Bio Sharon Aldrick has been an arts worker, creative producer & professional photographer for 28 years. She has produced over sixty exhibitions solo, group & collaborations mostly projects about ‘Identity’ and the ‘Visual language’ working together with artists to produce contemporary exhibitions that connect to community and build resilience. Her work has been exhibited in leading galleries and Regional Art Galleries Australian wide. Sharon is passionate about documenting the human condition and peoples' cultural environments. Sharon grew up on the Central Coast and has worked in the arts community in many roles over the years including teaching, commissions, residencies and project coordinator. Sharon worked as the Art Planer Coordinator for a major redevelopment of Gosford & Wyong Hospitals in 2006-2010 implementing an innovative vision of Arts & Health. Sharon currently working as the Youth Arts Coordinator for Regional Youth Support Services, Youth Arts Warehouse since 2011 responsible for the development, implementation & supervision of the youth arts programs.

Syn The presentation will be a video that covers RYSS role in the delivery of innovative youth arts programs and will show examples of quality arts practice connecting to community and building resilience for marginalised young people and young people identifying with disability. The presentation will showcase our commitment to supporting our cultural leaders and emerging artists of tomorrow. The Youth Arts WAREHOUSE delivers creative development programs for young people 12-25years in a purpose built all access arts and music venue in Gosford. Through the facilitation of three core disciplines: Visual Arts, Music and Theatre, we provide opportunities for local arts practitioners to mentor emerging young Artists through professional practice. We play a key role in paving the way for future cultural leaders and young artists to realize their true potential. By producing innovative, cutting edge productions that connect to local community our organisation helps to create a stronger healthier community that has a place for our young people to be part of shaping their own place in society.


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Rhonda Wilson

Bio Rhonda Wilson has worked for 35 years in a range of different areas which include, community management and community development, she has a range of skills, opinions and friends and is constantly looking for a challenge. During her time in the community sector Rhonda has worked in women’s health services, accommodation, domestic violence, child sexual assault, staff consultancy and staff training as well as delivering conference papers at a local, national and international level. Whilst in her current role as CEO at Central Coast ARAFMI she has remained passionate about social justice and working with people and families whose lives have been affected by Mental illness.

Syn When Central Coast ARAFMI rebranded to Mental Health and More it was because we had come to the realisation that our mental health is just one aspect of our overall wellbeing. Health is more than just the absence of illness. It is also the ‘presence of purpose in life, active involvement in satisfying work and play, positive relationships and a healthy body and living environment’ (Mental Health Coordinating Council, 2015). By taking a holistic approach, ARAFMI plans to promote physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing too, because when these are in balance, good mental health is obtained. There are many talented people on the Coast wanting to offer programs but there are real barriers that prevent a real fit in a medicalised system. ‘Team Arts’ and ‘Team Health’ need to get together and share what they are doing. They would have a lot to offer each other, if only they knew it. We need a coordinated approach that is not tokenistic, but rather offers sustainability for services who mean business. Services which are tenable and adaptable to the needs of those wishing to have easy access to resources in their pursuit of health and recovery.


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Evan Lawrie

Bio Evan Lawrie oversees MMAD’s programs on the Central Coast, under the guise of the ‘Grandmaster’ (a title that pays homage to Grandmaster Flash and the strong links MMAD has with hip-hop culture and its origins). Evan ensures that the MMAD HQ is a fresh and welcoming home to all who walk through its doors, and mentors young people using music, to help them realise their purpose and potential.

Syn MMAD is a unique grassroots charity that exists to change young lives through the power of music and mentoring. It’s a charity that provides expressive therapy and opportunity to 20,000 at-risk and traumatised young people each year who as a result of abuse, neglect or tragic life events are struggling with challenges such as homelessness, violence, anti-social behaviours, exclusion from education, family breakdowns, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency and low self-esteem. MMAD creates a sense of family for these vulnerable young people and offers a creative safe-haven where they are not only supported in breaking negative cycles; they are empowered to use their own unique talents to make a difference within the wider community. The MMAD HQ on Mann Street is also home to The Lounge Room, a social enterprise community space filled with coffee, live music, performance poetry and art, that exists to create community, culture and belonging on the Central Coast, while raising funds for the charity’s ongoing programs. Evan’s presentation will focus on how MMAD has grown from humble origins to help young people all around Australia, and how MMAD is evolving on the Central Coast with the introduction of The Lounge Room, as a place to spread the MMADness to the whole community.

Documents

Wednesday 17 February 9:30am to 1pm The Hub Erina Youth … Knowledge... · 2016-02-16 · Gosford City Council Regional Forum 17 February 2016 1 KNOWLEDGE, SERVICE & VISIBILITY in