BEDLAM 2026 Symposium Opening: Artist Wellbeing in Practice

The opening night of the BEDLAM Symposium features a keynote speech and a panel discussion exploring artist wellbeing through the lens of arts and mental health.

This event is the opening night of the BEDLAM Arts & Mental Health Partnership Symposium, which focuses on Artist Wellbeing. The evening begins with a welcome from the BEDLAM partners. A keynote speech by Rob Beck and Dr Anthony Gifford explores the distinction between creating art from trauma and creating trauma through art, drawing on psychological and creative perspectives. This is followed by a panel discussion chaired by Rachel Sharpe, featuring Dr Mahnaz Hashmi, Soweto Kinch, and Alex Robinson, who discuss practical approaches to supporting the wellbeing of artists and creatives.