The Culture Trainers: Findings from an Evaluation of a Pilot Programme in Cultural Attendance and Public Mental Health Dr Alastair Roy Psychosocial Research Unit University of Central Lancashire

Participating cultural organisations Manchester Art Gallery Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester Velodrome Band on the Wall Manchester Central Library People’s History Museum

Three questions How are we conducting this evaluation? What we have found so far? What might be required for this model to work in the long term?

‘It broadens the base of people who we can work with; people who may not have the confidence to come in on their own.’ (Venue lead)

‘No, I’d not been to any of them before, I’m not big on culture really.’ (Health Trainer)

Have you ever visited any of the venues in your own time before the programme started? 5/13 Health Trainers said that they had been to at least 1 venue. 3/5 had only been to 1/6 venues. Hence only 2/13 had ever been to more than 1 of the 6 venues before the beginning of this programme.

Have you visited any of the venues outside of work since the programme had begun? 10 Health Trainers said that they had. 5/8 Health Trainers who had never attended any of the venues prior to the programme beginning had subsequently attended at least one of the venues in their own time.

2008/09 DCMS survey 2010 A high-quality arts experience is likely to result in increased engagement, and/or That increased engagement with the arts makes a high-quality experience more likely.

Summary Extended pilot Cultural attendance takes time to develop as a habit Working cross sectors is complex Realising the cultural capital of the Health Trainers

Thanks for listening: