Feedforward: Creative Well-Being
- Carolina Lio
- Jan 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 18
On the 24th of January and the 7th of February, we brought together curators and community engagement leaders from across London to explore the intersection of art and mental well-being in a two-part Feedforward session titled Creative Well-being: Cultivating Mental Health through Artistic Collaboration.
Feedforward: Creative Well-being seeks to uncover best practices, foster collaboration, and identify new opportunities for integrating mental health and community-focused art programmes. The event, hosted at the Design District in London and chaired by Sylvia Keck and Carolina Lio, was by invitation only and featured a carefully curated agenda designed to encourage dialogue, share insights, and inspire action.
Mental well-being has become an increasingly vital focus within the arts, as institutions recognise their unique ability to address pressing social issues. Art not only provides an outlet for personal expression but also creates spaces for community dialogue and healing. This Feedforward session aims to deepen understanding and action by connecting practitioners and institutions, amplifying their shared impact.
Curators from leading art institutions such as Serpentine, Delfina Foundation, South London Gallery and Camden Art Centre, amongst others, will share current community and well-being initiatives, outreach strategies and challenges, and goals for enhancing mental well-being through art.
Reports from both meetings are available for consultation below.
Participants of the first session:
Julia Cort, Community Engagement Manager at the Horniman Museum
Paul Crook, Head of Communities & Learning at the South London Gallery
Erin Li, Curator of Public Programming at Delfina Foundation
Rachel Routledge, Curator: Community and Engagement at Auto-Italia
Alex Thorp, Education Curator at the Serpentine Galleries
Participants of the second session:
George Collum, Learning Curator at Camden Art Centre
Vania Gonzalvez, Learning Curator at the Barbican Centre
Richard Martin, Director of Participation at the Whitechapel Gallery
Seth Pimlott, Social Practice Curator at Chisenhale Gallery
Frances Williams, Health and Research Lead at Queer Circle
Download the report from the first session:
Download the report from the second session:
The Feedforward series is a platform for research, dialogue, exchange and networking. These sessions bring together curators, practitioners, and thinkers to discuss critical topics and explore opportunities for collaboration. Past sessions have examined the heritage of slavery, socio-political dynamics in Tijuana, and cultural practices bridging Morocco and Europe.