Page 135 - FINAL_RPS Awards 2021 Coverage Book_Full (2)

Arts & Health

As we reflect on this recent period of pandemic disruption, it is apparent that during this
time, while so many things in life seemed to diminish, creativity thrived. From providing a
welcome distraction or a mood-boosting remedy for anxiety, artistic activities such as simply
watching TV and film or engaging in reading and crafting have been a lifeline for many.
Businesses who responded creatively to the pandemic by adapting, diversifying, and
expanding their portfolios have embraced new markets and increased productivity. How
has this growth occurred? The answer is in no small part to do with the role creativity can
play in the act of problem-solving.
The pandemic has offered new health considerations or magnified pre-existing problems.
Where we were spending a questionable amount of time on a screen, we have become
unquestionably burnt out by the digital world. However, once again, creativity offers respite
and release from this. Reading a book, taking a sketchbook for a walk, playing a musical
instrument, or devising a game with a friend or loved one all makes us think differently and
change our behavioural patterns and so called ‘quick fixes’. Creativity saves us from the
dangers we don’t see and makes us question what we are doing; inspiring and challenging
us to take a different approach.

ENO Breathe is a good example of an integrated social prescribing programme of singing,
breathing and wellbeing, to provide crucial support to people recovering from COVID-19. It
was designed by the English National Opera in partnership with the Imperial College
Healthcare London to carefully develop a 6-week online programme that offers self-
management for sufferers of long-COVID experiencing breathlessness and the anxiety this
can produce. The sessions are led by ENO vocal specialists who focus on breathing
retraining through singing, using lullabies as its musical starting point to empower
participants with tools and techniques that help them focus constructively on their
breathing. Following a successful pilot in Autumn 2020, a national roll-out was announced in
January 2021 to 1,000 participants across the country. As of June 2021, the programme now
works in partnership with 50 NHS Trusts and has already reached 300 patients. Evaluative
findings indicate that ENO Breath has a hugely positive impact on the wellbeing of its
participants and that their levels of breathlessness had improved. ENO Breathe has recently
won the prestigious RPS Awards for Impact.

Arts & Community

Over the last few years, we have all had to re-calibrate our lives. This has meant that we
have had to re-look at how we live, play, party, learn and develop as people. We have had to
move out of offices to dormitories, restaurants, cafes, studios, cinemas, theatres, gyms etc.
and embrace our homes like never before.

We have all had digital overload - do you really want to have a digital party if you’ve been all
day in digital meetings? In lock down serendipity is replaced by scheduling, the accidental is
replaced by intentional and chance encounters replaced by planned encounter. How many
times have we heard people bemoaning the missing of the water-cooler moment? The
pandemic has eroded a version of community that we were all familiar with and challenged
us to find new ways to communicate and maintain relationships within the new normal. The