Greater Manchester Creative Health Strategy
We worked with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and GM NHS Integrated Care Service on their ambitious plan to become the world's first Marmot city region.
Greater Manchester is set to become the world's first city region with a strategy that harnesses the potential of culture, creativity and heritage to address health inequities and inequalities. Through research and partnership approach, culture and creative will local residents to lead longer, healthier, and happier lives by improving their wellbeing through 'creative health' activities.
Culture Commons are delighted to be working with the core project team to design and implement a bespoke programme of policy engagement, including policy design, strategic influence with local, regional and national policy makers, and amplifying the potential of this ground-breaking project internationally too.
The GM Creative Health Strategy was launched at an event at Whitworth Art Gallery in 2022. The event welcomed creatives and health professionals from across industries and included powrful speeches from and discussions between key influencers in the city, including Sir Richard Leese (Chair of the GM NHS ICS) and Dr Clive Parkinson (Manchester Metropolitain University), as well as a violin performance curated by Made by Mortals and poetry read by Ella Otomewo.
At the launch, Sir Richard Leese, said:
“A culturally rich and creative city region is part of what’s going to foster a healthier city region. There’s real room for creative health to grow and for it to become part of the fabric of our lives.”
Dr Clive Parkinson, Leading Thinker in Creative Health, also delivered an outstanding keynote speech fuelled with passion and delight, noting the theme of the afternoon, and the strategy, was that of ‘people’ - that change comes from the people, and that the people are the city.
If you'd like to find out more about the strategy's implications for policy, or if you'd like to support or partner with us on our ongoing policy activity realted to this project, you can get in touch with us at contact@culturecommons.uk
You can read the full GM Creative Health Strategy here: