25 years ago, I led a team based at Colchester Institute in developing the UK's first MA in Health and the Arts (NB not a therapy programme). The degree was validated by a neighbouring institution, Anglia Polytechnic University (now Anglia Ruskin Uni), within at that time a 'regional university' structure. It was a fantastic course that drew on the disciplines of health, music, visual arts and literature + research, and attracted students from across these disciplines. The critical stumbling block at that time was the failure of health service funders to see the value of the arts for their staff. Eventually, the programme was a casualty of a university restructuring. Teaching was demanding yet incredibly stimulating as were the regular challenges to conventional assessment methods! I wish you all success in your work, Dr. Terry Smyth, Community Fellow, Department of History, University of Essex.
25 years ago, I led a team based at Colchester Institute in developing the UK's first MA in Health and the Arts (NB not a therapy programme). The degree was validated by a neighbouring institution, Anglia Polytechnic University (now Anglia Ruskin Uni), within at that time a 'regional university' structure. It was a fantastic course that drew on the disciplines of health, music, visual arts and literature + research, and attracted students from across these disciplines. The critical stumbling block at that time was the failure of health service funders to see the value of the arts for their staff. Eventually, the programme was a casualty of a university restructuring. Teaching was demanding yet incredibly stimulating as were the regular challenges to conventional assessment methods! I wish you all success in your work, Dr. Terry Smyth, Community Fellow, Department of History, University of Essex.