17-09-2024
Wednesday 27 November 2024 - Friday 29 November 2024, Museum Dr. Guislain (Ghent, Belgium).
Conference aim
The second
Culture & Mental Health international conference will take place in Ghent on 28 and 29 November 2024.
This conference seeks to promote learning, discussion and debate around cultural interventions aimed at improving the wellbeing of people recovering from mental health difficulties or people in vulnerable situations.
The focus of this edition is on supporting the mental wellbeing of forcibly displaced people through art and culture.
In a report in 2022 the EU and WHO
call for support for the mental wellbeing of forcibly displaced people through art and culture : “People displaced because of natural disasters, persecution, conflict, generalised violence or human rights violations invariably experience significant loss, physical hardships and other stressors that can lead to psychological distress. A large body of evidence shows how forcibly displaced people contribute positively to society. This potential can be further enhanced by ensuring that they are in good physical and mental health. Therefore, according to the report, it is important to support the arts, as investing in the field is an investment in the mental, physical and social health of forcibly displaced people.”
This conference wants to bring together individuals from the public, academic, third sector and voluntary sectors, to share experiences, practices and knowledge about
the importance and impact of the arts, reading, heritage and creativity on improving mental health, wellbeing and resilience of refugees.
A symbolic venue
The Dr Guislain Museum is an obvious choice as a venue for this conference. Housed in the oldest mental asylum in Belgium, which dates back to 1857, surrounded by a mental health hospital. This museum aims to break down the many prejudices that still define what is mental illness and what is ‘normal’.
Conference programme
Our conference programme is the result of a call for papers and workshops that was reviewed by a programme committee. We have designed a divers and rich programme that covers a broad spectrum ranging from research projects to case studies. On top of this we’ve scheduled interesting keynote speakers for the plenary sessions.
Discover the Conference programme here.
Fees
Conference Day 1: €100 (€75 for students)
Conference Day 2: €100 (€75 for students)
Full ticket (2 days): €200 (€150 for students)
Conference Dinner (Thursday): €50 (for all)
Conference chair
Bart De Nil is a PhD researcher between UCL Arts & Sciences and Information Studies, investigating public libraries as social infrastructure for creative health. For the past decade he has been leading developments in culturally mediated wellbeing in Flanders, Belgium and internationally.
Organised by Dr. Guislain Museum, Iedereen Leest, Red Star Line Museum, Solentra and TOON. In co-operation with Universiteit Gent Social Work and Social Pedagogy and University College London Arts & Sciences. Supported by The Baring Foundation.
