At The Amelia Scott we’re using creativity to improve people’s health and wellbeing.
It comes as a surprise to some people when they learn we’re moving away from the old image of museums and libraries being places full of old books, old things and exhibitions about things from the past, and developing a new and exciting side to our work; creative health.
Creative health uses culture, creativity, and heritage to help people live healthier, happier lives. Whether that’s taking part in an art group, writing stories together, or even rolling dice in an immersive Dungeons & Dragons campaign, involving people in the creative process improves their wellbeing.
We started looking at creative health projects nearly 10 years ago, before we became The Amelia Scott when we were just(!) a museum. Working collaboratively with Age UK and Canterbury Christ Church University we created bespoke programmes for people living with dementia that focused on new learning, rather than simply remembrance. This successful programme is still considered a template for museums who want to work with people living with dementia. From that starting point we went on to collaborate with Canterbury and University College London to create the extremely successful, award- winning Museums on Prescription programme.
In 2022 The Amelia Scott opened its doors for the first time, creating new opportunities for us to include health and wellbeing in what we do on a daily basis. We launched our first 12-week creative health courses like Take Some Time, an art-based mindfulness group, and Our Own Exhibition, where participants used our collections to curate their own displays, as well as creative writing sessions inspired by the historic crime stories in our archives.
These courses had real impact and we quickly learned that people needed longer-term opportunities to build confidence and connection. So, we adapted to meet this need. Partnering with West Kent Mind we developed longer, six-month courses – one rooted in art history and creativity, and another, more unusually, built around the game Dungeons & Dragons. That course in particular demonstrated how playful, imaginative activities could make a huge difference to younger adults and men in particular, so often underrepresented in wellbeing services. Multiple universities have now expressed an interest in studying how we run this course and it’s outcomes.
Why Tunbridge Wells?
Because of the range of Council services you can access at The Amelia Scott it means we meet some people who are at their most vulnerable. Add to this the knowledge that like for so many, people living in our Borough face the challenges of loneliness and isolation. We also have an ageing population with many residents living with long-term health conditions.
This offers an opportunity (and we think responsibility too) to do something positive. Through our integrated services we are able to partner with the Council’s other teams, schools and third-sector organisations. Our relationship with universities helps us evaluate the impact of our work and ensure the rigour and evidence of success is present. Together we’re building programmes that respond to local needs and enable health and social care services to make savings further down the line.
We make a difference
Evaluation has shown the courses we offer make a difference to people’s lives:
- The majority of participants report feeling less lonely after taking part.
- Many say they feel more confident, more connected, and more likely to feel enabled to leave the house.
- Several have gone on to volunteer with us, helping to lead future courses or supporting others.
- Others have started local businesses based on their time in the programme.
One participant said: ‘I have made so many local friends where before I had none. Interacting with like-minded people with no judgement has been so helpful. This has truly been the highlight of my week.’
Creative health is more than just a ‘nice extra’. It makes people feel better. It eases pressure on GPs and social care, it helps people at some of the most challenging points in their lives. And thanks to new research from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, we can prove it.
Looking ahead
We’re proud to be building a national reputation as a leader in creative health, forging new partnerships and sharing what we learn throughout our professional networks.
Our programmes are being recognised by external organisations and supported by funds like The Health and Wellbeing in Museums Fund – delivered by the Museums Association with funding from Julia Rausing Trust, who recently announced a grant of £72,332 to support delivery of a new phase of work focussing on two areas of urgent local and national need:
- Support for men experiencing housing challenges
- Bereavement support for older people
The Amelia Scott is here for everyone. Free entry, local stories, programmes co-designed with residents. Families use us for play and discovery, adults come to learn and connect, and those most in need can find a safe and welcoming space. We will keep offering a place where anyone – whatever their reason for visiting – can find creativity, connection, and a sense of belonging.
Because in the end, creativity isn’t just about making things. It’s about making life better.
Jeremy Kimmel - Arts, Heritage & Engagement Director, The Amelia Scott