Mapping of Initiatives on Culture, Health and Well-being

Colors & Minds was an experiential Artistic Program raising awareness in the Psychosocial Sector for Young People, and was jointly organized by the following entities: the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (ΕΜΣΤ), Association of Social Responsibility for Children and Youth (SKEP), Association for Regional Development and Mental Health (EPAPSY) and the voluntary artistic initiative Talks & Crafts.
The experiential Artistic Program had as a goal the deployment of visual arts to promote an understanding and acceptance of the world around us with the ultimate aim of creating a more friendly society for all. It involved young people from the general population (students from the Athens School of Fine Arts, the Art and Psychotherapy Centre and volunteers), as well as recipients of mental health services.
Inspired by Vlassis Caniaris’ work Hopscotch (1974), the participants were invited to use different artistic means (drawing, photography/video, sculpture, installation, performance) and text to experientially explore contemporary art through various conceptual aspects of the specific work.
Colors and Minds was held at ΕΜΣΤ from October 2023 to May 2024. A presentation of the artworks created by the participants was on view from May 21 until May 26, 2024.
Τhe program was closed and had predetermined participants in order to fulfill the educational and therapeutic goals of all meetings.

The program aims to educate young people through various form. The educational theatrical performance (based on therapeutic scenarios within the scope of health prevention) is engaging emotions and stimulates thinking, the competition stimulates creativity, and the online course allows for individual acquiring and consolidating knowledge. It all adds up for a comprehensive preventive program that not only provides information, but also inspires to be healthy and live/lead a conscious life. The mission is educating young people to live in freedom and sobriety, without addictions: nicotine, alcoholism and drug addiction.
EDUCATION THROUGH ART
Theatrical performance “Chemical Mood Change vs. Positive Emotions Without Stimulants” narrates a story of someone who hopes to change their life and provides an opportunity for viewers to understand what addiction really means and how to defend ourselves against them. Education about risky actions is one of the main goals of the play. The second, no less important, is to give alternative strategies. The script has been consulted and approved by methodologists in 2016, to be appropriate for young people from the age of 12.
LITERARY AND ART COMPETITION
The goal is to initiate reflection among young people and encourage them to express their own thoughts about addiction and its dangers. Young people are encouraged to engage in preventive thinking and to express their introspection through artistic works, touching on intellectual, emotional and sensory topics. Through these literary and artistic works the development of skills in these areas is supported.
PREVENTIVE COURSES on mental and physical health prevention. First of them is about mental well-being and addresses the issue of stress. Purpose of the course is to give young people tools how to deal with stress, so they don't look for relief in harmful substances. The second course touches more closely on the issue of physical health prevention - applies to popular energy drinks.

The 7th edition of "Haczyk | Gliwice literary meetings" had the main emphasis on historical motifs. Set in a broad literary, artistic and popular science context, it was an opportunity to discuss various topics related to the historical heritage of the region, country and Europe. It was an opportunity for participants to expand their literary horizons and get to know history better, and for children and teenagers was an opportunity to take part in unusual history lessons.
"Haczyk" consisted of author meetings, walks, historical competition, exhibition of photos of old Gliwice, workshops: archaeological, historical, genealogical and artistic with a city theme, historical picnic.
During numerous workshops and meetings for younger audiences, the organizers showed how history was created, how to reconstruct and research it, in order to arouse children and young people's curiosity about the world around them, to provoke them to ask questions and look for answers, because "the past is today."
The project was aimed at a wide group of recipients: children, youth, adults and seniors. The offer for each group was adapted to the age and sensitivity of the recipients. Some events were translated into Polish sign language, architectural accessibility and an induction loop was ensured.
It was co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund - a state earmarked fund.

1. The activities carried out as part of the project in the school include:
- cultural and historical tours in the Opole Voivodeship (Nysa, Paczków, Niemodlin, Brzeg, Opole, Małujowice, Byczyna)
- engaging in cooking, baking, sewing, and performing household preserves, baking traditional pies with the use of traditional recipes and products
- conducting discussion panels, lectures, and meetings aimed at familiarizing and reminding local traditions, the history of the Opole region, and instilling passions for cognition
- cultural activities titled "Nature in the era of art" - introducing the art of Impressionists connected with learning about the use of plants and floristic techniques for practical purposes
- organizing photography skill workshops
- creating an educational game "I have, I know Opole"
- a singing contest for the youngest participants (preschool units) "Festival Opole - I sing too"
- all additional activities lead to the integration of the local community of all age groups
2. Three years of organization Family Days, whose leading theme "You're a star" showcases the local talents of students, residents of the community. During these events, the local community is presented with diverse talents of individuals, historical activities, and attempts at social integration. The school and local community have the opportunity to engage with music, dance, and singing performed by students, parents, residents, as well as musicians from Opole, who performed a music concert.
3. Organization of activities developing creativity, including theater classes and vocal classes, during which students prepare for performances organized within the facility, for example "The Little Match Girl", "Hansel and Gretel", "Little Red Riding Hood" as well as at the Community Cultural Center in Dobrzeń Wielki - "Kacperek" and especially on the boards of the big stage of the J. Kochanowski Theater in Opole – the play "The Nutcracker". The activities integrate the entire families of the Kup community, as well as the surrounding localities. The school disseminates the results of its actions by inviting students from other municipal educational institutions, as well as schools from Opole, and wards from the social care homes in Ładza and Dobrzeń Wielki, thus preventing social exclusion.
The activities carried out by the educational institution within the framework of cultural education significantly enriched the offer proposed by the core curriculum. Students have acquired and developed a range of artistic skills that will certainly be useful in the next stages of education and in their future lives. Among the projects activities will stimulate curiosity about the world, acquaintance with tradition, history and local and regional cultures, and will build sensitivity to aesthetics, art and music. The school has established new contacts with cultural institutions - the Jan Kochanowski Theater in Opole, where they will conduct authorial workshops on acting.

The organizer of the Colorful Bicycle Rally are:
- Stare Miasto Commune with its seat in the Old Town at ul. Główna 16 b, 62-571 Stare Miasto
- Public Library of the Stare Miasto Commune named after prof. Joanna Papuzińska.
The aim of the rally is to promote the region and promote a healthy lifestyle, involving cultural institutions in organizing such events. According to the organizer's assumptions, the date of the rally is one day May 5, 2024. The length of the rally route is approximatively 21 km.

A multi-stranded project responding to challenges and possibilities for artists in the medical setting, following the Covid 19 crisis. Building on over 17 years of experience, the organisation continues to research and develop innovative approaches to participatory, performance and digital dance practices in pediatric healthcare.
The current programme includes:
1. Regular one to one/small group somatic dance sessions for hospitalised Infants, Children and Young People (ICYP) on acute wards at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital (AHCH) including, neurology/cardiac/acute mental health.
2. The creation of 360° dance film for VR experience for children in hospital and researching innovative approaches to dance VR/AR for hospitalised/isolated children with Coventry University
4. Artist development opportunities-reflective practice for STDC artists & CPD training for dance and mental health-including children with eating disorders.
5. Artist development-apprenticeships and emerging artist/work based learning programme.

The main aim of Performance Mindset for musican is to provide the best quality resources, tools, and tips for classical musicians to become even better performers. Performance Mindset is a comprehensive service with online courses, personal coaching, and workshops. The courses cover topics such as stage presence, mental training, performance anxiety, and more. Performance Mindset offers personal coaching and workshops to help musicians develop their skills and is dedicated to help musicians reach their full potential. The goal is to create a community of musicians who are committed to their growth and development and who support each other in their journey.
The program is designed for both professional musicians and young musicians.
The methods are designed to help professional musicians perform better under pressure, not necessarily only when and if they feel stressed. Mental training helps advanced musicians push their level even higher and develop during their music career, presenting their full potential which is often hidden inside them.
The methods are designed to help also the young musicians to perform better during examinations, recitals, or just during their lessons. The young musicians are helped to record better, benefitting of the training methods. Mental training helps musicians to deal with fears and anxiety that come to them before and during important performances.

In the establishment of “Familieklyngen” (The family cluster) at the new Regionshospital Gødstrup in Herning, the project aimed to create the best framework for future births at the hospital. This consisted of furnishing eight delivery rooms with multisensory installation art, with seven unique artworks with moods from the local nature, designed as a backdrop for all future births at the hospital.
The project builds on studio poēsís’ experience from the pilot project ‘Future Delivery Room’ carried out in Herning prior. Research from the project showed that by using calming natural atmospheres and employing new digitalization tools, better treatment can be provided, family formation can be strengthened, and a better working environment for the staff is created. Studies show that patients can reduce negative emotions such as stress, fear, and pain when surrounded with images of nature, which has a direct physiological effect on blood pressure and pulse, by being a strategically used ‘positive distraction’. Several studies have shown that by stimulating patients, perceived pain can be reduced, by as much as 60%. This helps lower adrenaline levels and supports natural childbirth.
In addition to the birth, a ritual artwork was developed to welcome the new child into the world. This work was developed in collaboration with Odin Teateret, studio poēsís, and the local community from a nearby summerhouse area. The vision was to create a collective work from the community as a birthday celebration of the new child, which is both touching, authentic, and locally rooted, aiming to strengthen the attachment to the area. The artwork included a flag-raising ceremony followed by kite flying on the beach.

Since its establishment in 2016, the Center for Arts and Medicine has formalized a range of activities at the University Hospital for Tumors, utilizing art to better integrate individuals with malignant diseases or alleviate the stigma of such conditions. Starting with a series of exhibitions in 2011 with the creation of the Panacea gallery, the center has opened up to realms not typically found in hospital spaces. The ensuing interaction between artists/artworks and space users (patients/families/friends/staff) has spurred further actions, including concerts, a literary club, movement/dance therapy, and music and art therapy. Beyond continuous medical treatment, the center aims to improve the quality of life, ease hospital stays, help families understand the disease, and raise awareness of disease prevention while reducing stress among patients, families, and hospital staff. The overarching goal is to present malignant diseases as chronic conditions with a perspective for a normal future life if timely recognized.

Mature for Art – meetings focused on the topics and problems addressed at current exhibitions, intended for senior art lovers. Every meeting consists of a lecture part, discussion, and a tour of the exhibition. Addressed to a particular age group, the meetings offer an opportunity to reflect and exchange experiences, build connections, and develop a sense of community. They stimulate intellectual activity, personal growth, and development of interests among senior audiences. The meetings take place every second Friday of the month.