Dear Roxana

I recently developed a short course for Play Specialists at the Royal
Liverpool Children's NHS Trust, Alder Heywith Tate Liverpool.  One of
the initial outcomes was the development of drawing as the basis for
different therapies.  However, having been associated with Arts for
Health for 5 years as Research Development Coordinator, one of the most
refreshing pieces of research to be published was Mike White's
'Determined to Dialogue' (CAHHM, University of Durham), in which he asks
why do we keep asking for quanitive research results from something that
is essentially qualitative - i.e. many people have been forced to ask
the wrong questions because of ridgid, uninformed funding and academic
institutions.

Thare are needless to say many issues here, in terms of physical
health, mental health, well-being and quality of life, but even most
arts therapists (as opposed to artists in health/care) would value the
use of drawing as an essential tool.

You might also try LIME (formerley Hospital Arts), the longest running
practicing arts in healthcare organisation in the UK - Google will find
the contact details.

I could wax lyrical for some time, so if you would like more
information, perhaps you would like to contact me directly.

Regards
David

David Haley
Research Fellow, MIRIAD
Manchester Metropolitan University
Postgraduate Research Centre
Cavendish North Building
Manchster M15 6BG
+44 (0)161 247 1093

>>> [log in to unmask] 18/01/2004 19:38:33 >>>
on 16/1/04 5:27 pm, Roxana Meechan at [log in to unmask]
wrote:

> As an Arts Development Officer, I often need to justify to funders
and
> the general public the benefits that Arts activity brings to the
overall
> Health of individuals but specially Children & Young People.
>
> Please, could someone within this Drawing Research Network let me
know
> what hard facts/evidence (research findings/statistics) there is at
the
> beginning of 2004 that proves the benefits of "Drawing" in particular
to
> the Health & Development of Children & Young People?
>
> Many thanks for your help!
>
> Roxana
>
> Roxana Meechan
> Arts Development Officer - Sutherland
> The Highland Council
> Education, Culture & Sport
> Highland Council Offices
> Main Street
> Golspie
> Sutherland
> KW10 6RB
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Tel: (01408) 635211
> Fax: (01408) 633120
>
>
>
Dear Roxana

I know a previous student of mine who is now doing PhD educational
research
on how drawing improves literacy. Unfortunately I do not have his
email, but
I can write to him. How soon do you need supportive material, and if
this is
appropriate (not exactly health - literacy - is it?), can you wait as
long
as it takes to contact someone  'the old way' and wait for his
response?
Would it be ok to send your details in the letter so he could contact
you
directly?

Regards
Doris Rohr