Supporting Arts in Health in Libraries

This report evaluates then current work undertaken jointly between Birmingham Centre for Arts Therapies (BCAT)
and several Birmingham libraries.

BCAT are a registered charity that has been providing support for adults and children with mental and physical disabilities; and supporting community arts in health for the last 25 years.

The report is an evaluation of work carried out with 13 libraries.

Some of the feedback from participants:

  • ‘Activities like this help isolated people help build communities…so many Day Centres have closed there is nowhere to go where you are understood’
  • ‘achieved the activity with style’
  • ‘great welcome, smashing time’
  • ‘Council to stop closing libraries down’
  • ‘I enjoyed the interaction with people and learning new skills, great’
  • ‘more craft during holidays, story time, rhyme time for younger children’
  • ‘What an amazing 5 weeks…feel like I have gained some confidence’
  • ‘It was very touching to hear people’s stories from their lives. I was moved’
  • ‘I am still enjoying sitting and listening to the chatter around me’
  • ‘I love this group. I can be ‘me’ just relax into it. Nothing expected other than to be myself’
  • ‘…the activity got me thinking about making craft pieces to sell commercially at a local market’
  • ‘I have familiarised myself with the local area, made friendships and pushed myself to try new things. My mood has slightly improved as a result’.
  • ‘It was really challenging…but it was a good challenge, as I’d never try to do it otherwise.’
  • ‘I surprised myself with what I achieved. Thank you.’
  • ‘I’ve learnt a lot about myself’
  • ‘It encourages families and develops an expressionist character in children. It is fab therapy for all members of the family’.
  • ‘My son and I both had a lovely session. A focussed/ relaxed activity during a long summer holiday was very welcome’
  • ‘As a family we would LOVE more creative opportunities locally and centrally…we really recognise the benefit for our children’

Read the full report here – BCAT_Supporting Arts in Health in libraries