The Norfolk & Suffolk Culture Board works collaboratively to build the impact of culture in the East. The Board provides a focus for decision making and leadership regarding cultural issues, opportunities, strategies, programmes and projects. In 2023 the Board commissioned Creative Lives to review Creative Health practice across Norfolk and Suffolk and to build a strategic conversation about its purpose and growth. This event presented the culmination of this research and is aimed at strategic decision makers in health, social care and the arts to consider how we implement findings and recommendations.

The panel Included:

Roger Wright, CEO Britten Pears Arts, Member Norfolk and Suffolk Culture Board (Panel Chair)
Louise Jordan-Hall, Chair Norfolk & Suffolk Culture Board & Chair Norfolk & Waveney Mind
Stuart Keeble, Director of Public Health & Communities Suffolk
Susannah Howard, Integrated Care Partnership Director, Suffolk & North East Essex
Christopher Butwright, Assistant Director Public Health, Norfolk County Council
Dr Alex Burton, Senior Research Fellow, University College London
Nikki Crane, Consultant Creative Lives & Lead for Creative Health, Kings College London
Hollie Smith-Charles, Director of Creative Health, Arts Council England

Creative Lives were commissioned in April 2023 to explore the following questions:

'What is the current activity being delivered in the Creative Health sector across Norfolk and Suffolk and how is it being funded, reviewed, and sustained?'

'What does good practice look like in Creative Health and how can it be defined, shared, and potentially scaled up?'

'What are the workforce and volunteer needs in terms of support and skills development?'

'How can we make the case for Creative Health stronger in the region and what strategic levers can be drawn on to ensure future investment?'

Read the report here.

This work has been funded by Arts Council England, Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council and Norfolk & Waveney Mind.