This new course is for people who are already engaged in using participatory visual art in a wide range of health contexts. Or for those new to the field who are able to arrange work experience (voluntary or paid)for themselves for the duration of the course.

The Tutors.
The core tutors are:
Malcolm Learmonth, Arts and Health Lead for the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT),
Karen Huckvale, Director and Treasurer Arts & Health South West.
Both are artists and Senior Art Psychotherapists, with Devon Partnership NHS Trust, and have extensive experience of making art with people in teaching and community, as well as therapeutic contexts.

Other tutors will deliver specific areas of expertise within the course.

The course aims to expand and deepen students understanding of the use of participatory visual arts in health contexts. Students will develop practical knowledge and skills for working effectively within the broad arts and health sector. They will develop a greater awareness of the impacts and influences of art making particularly in relation to enhancing self esteem, positive mental health and well being.

The Arts & Health Course for Participatory Visual Art differs from ‘Art in Mental Health, a Foundation Course in Art Therapy’ in that the student group is smaller and the course is more practical, focussing on addressing issues arising from the practice of Arts and Health work. It will explore students own experiences of this work hence the need to be working with participatory visual art making in a broad health care setting.

The Art in Mental Health course offers a more in depth exploration of the psychology of image making, and goes further into an art psychotherapy perspective. While there are inevitable areas of overlap the two courses are complementary.

There will be opportunities for students to share their own work and experiences.

Learning will be through a mixture of taught material, experiential workshops and seminars.

Some reading will be required and students will be invited to undertake two short individual written pieces of work, (one may be a presentation).

The written work will involve an exploration of the practical issues and issues to consider when working with people, and a demonstration of awareness of key aspects and the implications of art & health practice.

A Completion Certificate with confirmation of the taught hours Continuing Professional Development is awarded at the end of course.

An optional EXIT interview is available at the end of the course for students to discuss further choices or issues raised.

Insider Art. PO Box 272. St Thomas. Exeter. EX2 9ZL

If you would like to discuss applying to this course we are happy to talk with you. Our office hours are erratic. Phone 01392 677258, - you may get a person- if not leave a message indicating good times to speak with you, slowly and clearly leaving your phone number and we will get back to you in a day or two.
Alternatively email: insiderart@blueyonder.co.uk to set up an appointment time to speak.

Term Dates: dates for 2006- 07
The course runs from 10:00am - 4:00pm over ten Fridays in Exeter.

Sessions run on 20th Oct, 3rd Nov, 24th Nov, 8th Dec, 2nd Feb, 23rd Feb, 16th March, 30th March, 20th April & 11th May.

Course fees for 2006:
Employer funded: £565:00
Self funded: £490:00
A limited number of concessionary places are available at £425:00. Priority is given to students and unemployed applicants but other low waged applicants are considered.
We cannot offer concessionary places to organisations.

We will assist applicants where we can to obtain funding from their employers, charitable sources or grant aid but have no funding or bursaries of our own.

Some part funding /grant support is available to students applying to this course from The Self Heal Association. Please write to The Self Heal Association (Registered Charity) 1A Ferndale Road, Exeter, EX2 9BW enclosing an SAE if you would like further information about this.

Payment is required in full by 22nd September at the latest. In exceptional circumstances it is possible to negotiate payment in two instalments, with half the fee paid by 22nd September at the latest and the balance by 14th November.

The Small Print:
We charge a £10:00 fee for each invoice issued.

We reserve the right to levy an additional £50:00 administration and interest charge to organisations who have not paid course fees within 60 days of the invoice date.

Cancellations:
If, having formally accepted a place, you withdraw from the course before 30th September we will charge a £25 administration fee and will try to fill your place, returning the balance to you, but cannot guarantee to do so. If we are unable to fill your place we will refund half your fee. The earlier a cancellation is made the more likely we are to be able to fill it.

We are unable to refund course fees after 1st October.

If you opt to pay the course fees in two instalments and withdraw from the course before paying the balance by 14th November you will still liable for payment of the whole of the balance on the course fees.

Arts & Health for Participatory Visual Arts will be structured around three subject areas:

· Health Contexts.
· Art-Making.
· Theory and practice.

These three areas include the following topics amongst others:
• Understanding health care language and systems.
• ‘Duty of Care’, ethics and accountability.
• Psychological aspects of physical health problems.
• Disability awareness.
• Implications of working with various mental health problems.
• Exhibiting work.
• Implications of working with different media and materials.
• Understanding helping relationships.
• Bereavement, loss and recovery.
• Group working.