A weekend retreat was held in beautiful, peaceful surroundings to explore how poems, stories and memoir can be used to enhance health and well-being with Victoria Field and Sheelagh Gallagher
Examples from contemporary literature were read and used as the basis for writing.For those using creative writing and reading in their work, certificates for Continuing Professional Development were available
Tutors were Victoria Field (Leader) - A writer and poetry therapist based in Cornwall, she was formerly writer-in-residence at Truro Cathedral. She has published two collections of poetry and had two plays produced by Hall for Cornwall. Her third co-edited book on therapeutic writing is due from Jessica Kingsley Press in 2010
Sheelagh Gallagher - Reading Development Officer for Nottinghamshire Libraries and Tutor on Creative and Professional Writing BA at University of Nottingham School of Education

read more about Southwell Library Poetry Festival at Southwell Library Poetry Festival

Lapidus Meetings

The Midlands Lapidus group is just getting going and welcomes anyone who is interested in writing and all its applications

To read about the Lapidus Group meeting in Leicester on 20th March 2010: Spring - A new beginning or more of the same? see
Rosalind Adam's blog

Arts & Health Website

Creative Remedies

for Staffordshire and the West Midlands

'demonstrates how the arts and health sectors can work together innovatively, using the arts to improve services in areas including Patient Care, Health Promotion, Staff Development and The Built Environment.
The site includes a fully searchable directory of arts and health projects, artists, arts organisations and health professionals who have been involved in arts and health work in the region. An advice section provides guidance on setting up an arts and health programme, gives an overview of the NHS and of the arts world, and provides information on commissioning artists, fundraising, research and evaluation.'