Older people in Cornwall to lose access to the arts after charity is ruled 'no longer sustainable'

Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly is to close after being ruled ‘no longer sustainable’ following a financial assessment of the organisation.

The charity provides vulnerable people living in Cornwall with access to the arts and in the past received support from Arts Council England and the Baring Foundation to run their ‘Home Service’, providing arts to older people in care homes in the county.

Writing in a statement on the organisations website, the charity’s board of trustees wrote: “It is with great regret that we have to announce the closure of Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. We have taken this difficult decision after an assessment of the financial forecast position. This indicates the organisation is no longer sustainable.

“We will be working to ensure as smooth a closure as possible, with current commitments that extend into next year being handed over as appropriate, and staff will continue to be available during this period.

“We are very proud of all that Arts for Health Cornwall has achieved in its 14 years of operation and hope that other organisations and individuals will be able to take forward the legacy.

“We would like to thank all those staff members, volunteers, practitioners, partners, supporters and participants who have enabled Arts for Health Cornwall to achieve all that it has, including winning a number of prestigious national awards and advancing the role of the arts and creativity for health and wellbeing. You have been a pleasure to work with.

“We are deeply sorry to have to communicate this decision, but the increasingly challenging economic climate for small charities has required some tough decisions to be made. Our decision in no way reflects upon our staff who have been ceaseless in their efforts to try to ensure a future for the organisation.

“If you have valued the work of our organisation, please do not let it be forgotten, but find ways to take it forward in your professional and personal lives so that the benefits of arts for health and wellbeing in Cornwall and beyond can continue to be demonstrated.”

Research shows that participating in regular creative activities can benefit people’s emotional, physical and mental health. Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly have been providing creative projects throughout Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, allowing people who may have otherwise been isolated with limited access to social activities and art, to have access to a wide range of interactive programmes.

Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly has a team of professionals work with health and care providers to bring creativity into care settings, allowing a broad range of people to participate. In addition they have spent many years using art to change and create more inviting and relaxing health and care environments, for the many people who use them.

Over the past 14 years, Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly have been able to provide a full variety of activities, recognising that different activities can affect people differently. Activities include: music, dance, design, crafts, visual-arts, theatre, writing and singing.

Speaking about the closure, director of Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Jayne Howard, said: “We are very sad at the closure of the organisation and think it will be a loss for Cornwall, but the increasingly challenging economic climate meant that trustees had to make some tough decisions.

“I am afraid that there is nothing that can be done now to save the organisation. We are hopeful however that arts and health work will continue through other organisations. The Home Service project in particular is one that we are in the process of transferring over to another organisation and we hope to be able to say more about that before we finally close.”

Commenting on the closure, area director for South West at Arts Council England, Phil Gibby, added: “We were saddened to hear that Arts for Health Cornwall and the Scilly Isles is closing. The organisation has an impressive track record in leading innovative high quality arts projects that really benefit people's physical, emotional and mental health.

“The Home Service project in particular, exploring how creative arts can engage, invigorate and give a voice to older people in residential settings, has the potential to be a significant step forward in establishing best practice for arts and older people. We are pleased that the organisation is looking to ensure that this work will go forward.”

The organisation is due to close on 18 December. To find out more about Arts for Health Cornwall and Isles of Scilly in the meantime, visit: http://www.artsforhealthcornwall.org.uk/