Social prescribing - its when your GP tells you to do something artistic!

Its actually good for you to come and spend time being creative. Social prescribing – it’s when your GP tells you to do something artistic!

Lots and lots of research has proven it. Can you believe they’ve actually now given it a name – they’re are now calling it “social prescribing”, as described in an article on the subject in My Modern Met. The definition of “doctor’s orders” is about to be rewritten in the United Kingdom!

Thanks to a new government scheme, “general practitioners across the country will advise patients to absorb fewer pills and syrups and more art and culture” says journalist Kelly Richman-Abdou.

Several reports support this theory. You can read more scientific discussion here if you follow this link: Reduction of Cortisol Levels and Participants’Responses Following Art MakingGirija Kaimal, Kendra Ray & Juan Muniz.

The study found that “After the very scientific craft party, researchers again tested the participants’ cortisol levels. Approximately 75 percent of the participants displayed lower levels of cortisol, indicating lower stress levels,” and it didn’t matter how good they were at the art, it was participating that lowered their cortisol levels. What a good thing!

Also fascinating is the research that now believes it has an affect on your cells!

James Clear discusses the findings here: “The impact of art, music, and writing can be seen in your physical body as well. In fact, this study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine used writing as a treatment for HIV patients found that writing [doing art] resulted in “improvements of CD4+ lymphocyte counts.” James Clear has a fascinating and inspiring blog about creativity, read here for more, lots more.

That’s the fancy way of saying: the act of writing actually impacted the cells inside the patient’s body and improved their immune system,” Clear explains.

In other words, the process of creating art doesn’t just make you feel better, it also creates real, physical changes inside your body. It has a healing effect. Remarkable!

This approach aims to highlight and illustrate the benefits of art-inspired, therapeutic treatment for a range of ailments and afflictions. “It’s scientifically proven,” UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock says, “access to the arts and social activities improves people’s mental and physical health. It makes us happier and healthier.”

Itl all still in in its early days but the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport predicts it will be on its feet by 2023. However we will have to wait and see if this audacious plan gets the green light from the UK’s new PM Boris Johnson.

In the meantime come with your friends take some time away from your screens and make something, its fun, its easy its simple.

For Level One worskhops, these are what you have to choose from:

Plate-Making Workshop where you make a plate that’s 25cms x 25cms – here are some images so you can imagine what you’d like to make:

Or you can make a heart in art glass that we’ll put into a white box frame to enjoy forever. You can see some finished ones here!

Or you can make six items of jewellery made with the fabulous dichoic glass, here are a few recent successes! No prior experience needed, just bring your creativity!

You can feel our workshps doing you good!

Or you can choose to make six coasters if you like, they can be all different or all the same. Can you imagine making these lovely coasters and having them in y9ur home?

Alternatively you can come and get messy with our brand new Alcohol Ink Workshop – its a basic introduction to Alcohol Inks and its fun properties, you frame your piece before you leave the workshop. See here: