Bristol Arts on Referral Alliance, a gateway to wellbeing art services
BARA is a partnership between Bristol City Council (Public Health), Knowle West Healthy Living Centre and Wellspring Healthy Living Centre who share a vision of the role of arts as an intervention to promote and sustain positive mental health and wellbeing.
The current programme of BARA activities are funded by Bristol City Council, Bristol CCG and charitable foundations.
We deliver art as a therapeutic activity in areas of greatest need and to those who experience low to moderate mental health issues, or those who are in recovery from mental illness and are well-enough to attend a group.
Each art on referral activity is embedded within a larger social prescribing programme thereby facilitating easy access to a range of positive, community-based activities and support.
BARA delivers 13 arts on referral groups, and hosts 6 follow-on or independent groups in those geographical areas with the greatest need.
Some of our groups are self-referral and others are via healthcare or social care professionals.
See map below or go to ‘Find a Group’
Find your nearest therapeutic art group in Bristol
If you are based in:
South Bristol download the referral form for ArtEase at Knowle West Healthy Living Centre
Inner-City and East Bristol, download the referral form for Wellbeing Arts.
Inner-City Bristol – for mothers with child/ren under 5, they can attend Dreamtime Arts at Children’s Centres: for the closest group, please see this leaflet
North Bristol (excl. Henleaze, Clifton, Cotham, Westbury and Redland), download the referral form for Wellbeing Arts
Any area of Bristol and want to make a referral to arts on referral in primary mental health care, the number for your client to self-refer through Bristol Wellbeing Therapies is 0117 982 3209 and ask for Artshine. For more information please download this leaflet.
- We provide clients and health practitioners with routes to Arts on Referral
- We help address health inequalities by providing Arts on Referral in areas of deprivation and reaching out to communities who don’t ordinarily access the arts
- We use a client-centred, asset-based approach, helping develop individuals’ resilience through high-quality follow-on and independent creative opportunities
- We add value by signposting and referring to other positive activities as part of a wider social prescribing programme
- We create a space for supportive networks and friendships to flourish
Wellbeing Arts
Artshine
Dreamtime Arts
