New creative health network launches in West of England
Image credit: Anna Kolosyuk Unsplash An exciting new regional network designed to bring together Creative Health practitioners and organisations from across Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Bath & North East Somerset has been launched today (8th December).
The West of England Creative Health Network has been established by Bristol City Council in partnership with Creative Health organisation creativeShift, with funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA), Bristol City Council and Sirona Care & Health.
The network aims to provide peer learning opportunities, strengthen regional and cross-sector collaboration, and grow a more integrated creative health ecosystem that better connects the West of England and more effectively supports communities.
Creative Health refers to the use of creative activities and approaches, from arts to crafts, to literature and gardening, to support and improve health and wellbeing. It also includes innovative ways of delivering health and care services through co-production, education, and workforce development. These approaches can be applied in homes, communities, cultural venues and healthcare settings.
Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the Bristol Health and Wellbeing Board, said:
“I’m delighted to see the combined efforts of our region helping to create new opportunities for practitioners to do the work they love. By launching this network, we can tap into the wealth of talent both here in Bristol and across the West of England to ensure residents have access to high-quality creative health activities to support their wellbeing.
“This network will give a great boost to the creative health sector here in the West of England. It will complement the work that we are already doing in Bristol with our Health and Culture One City boards recently joining forces to explore how Bristol’s cultural ecosystem can support people seeking better physical and mental health. I encourage all creative health practitioners and creative engagement leads to consider joining the network and sharing their expertise.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“This new network is the latest backing for creatives in our part of the world. Regional funding is supporting innovative work to help improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing, working with the NHS as part of a wider overall approach. I encourage people working in the sector to register for the event at M Shed next month.”
Julie Matthews, Director of CreativeShift, said:
"Our region has a strong and long history of Creative Health work supporting our communities. We have amazing practitioners and organisations who bring a wealth of experience which has helped shape this thriving sector. creativeShift are delighted to be involved in this new network which is a timely and exciting opportunity to bring together these voices, so we can work in collaboration to support each other and advocate for the powerful work that we do, now and into the future."
The network is open to anyone delivering creative engagement or participation activities with a health and wellbeing focus. To celebrate the launch, an in-person event will take place at M-Shed, Bristol, on Tuesday 27 January 2026, from 16:30 to 18:30. To reserve a ticket, or sign up to the network, please visit: https://creativeshift.org.uk/woe-creative-health-network.
