A tonic for the nation

We all need the escape of arts and culture. It can inspire and unite us, boost our wellbeing, and help us through difficult times. Like all arts and cultural venues during the current crisis, our doors at the Southbank Centre are closed for now, but we believe that access to art and creativity is more important than ever. 

Connecting offline

Although it’s been inspiring to see the amazing cultural initiatives that have emerged during the crisis, we were acutely aware that in the UK, millions of adults aren’t able to access digital technologies. Many of this group are also older people who have found that the social isolation they were already experiencing has been exacerbated by the pandemic. At the Southbank Centre, it’s a core part of our mission to reach those most excluded from cultural life, and in normal times we deliver an extensive Arts and Wellbeing programme to support those facing social isolation through participatory creative activities, offline. 

For example, our (B)old programme offers filmmaking, writing, dancing and singing workshops for people with dementia, and making sure that as much of this work as possible could continue under lockdown was one of our first priorities. So, supported by regular phone calls from the Creative Learning team, the workshops that began in the National Poetry Library have continued to be delivered through the post in the form of poetry packs created by poet Shazea Quraishi. Participants taking part in the (B)old Voices course have been supplied with MP3 players and headphones so that they can continue rehearsing with artist Fran Lobo, and are receiving remote tutoring from the comfort of their home. 

We also wanted to build on this programme and reach out to people who weren’t already engaged in Southbank Centre schemes. Last month we launched Art by Post, which sees free packs of creative activities sent via post to adults who are isolated from their community for various reasons (including those shielding) and without digital access across the UK. The activities are inspired by our visual art, literature, poetry and archive collections, and are designed by artists, with people living with dementia and chronic health conditions in mind. We hope that those taking part will feel inspired and that the activities will feed their imaginations, help them feel connected to others and enhance their mental health and wellbeing. 

Working together

Setting up the project in consultation with Age UK Camden and the National Academy of Social Prescribing allowed us to respond sensitively to needs that weren’t being met, and we are now putting in place an extensive network of regional partners who can help distribute the Art by Post packs across the UK. We have already reached over 1,600 people across England, Wales and Scotland, from ages 14 to 103. Up to 88% of those signed up are currently unable to leave their homes due to shielding. Care homes, inpatient units, arts and community organisations and mental health charities have all referred people onto the scheme, and individuals are signing up their grandparents, parents, friends and neighbours, or taking part themselves. 

We also want Art by Post to give a voice to this large community of people who are often hidden, many of whom will remain isolated even once lockdown is lifted. So we are providing freepost envelopes to every postal participant, and inviting them to share with us the poetry and artworks they create so that they can be included in an exhibition when the Southbank Centre reopens. Our team are holding regular phone calls with those taking part, and it’s been amazing to hear of the impact the project is already having. For some, it’s the first time they’ve written poetry in their adult lives, and it’s a new opportunity for others to share and discuss their creativity with friends, family and carers. 

Our mission

Finally, it’s important to recognise that as a National Portfolio Organisation and the UK’s largest arts centre, the Southbank Centre is a significant part of our nation’s cultural eco-system, and we believe we have a duty to do what we can to support our network of artists during this time of crisis for our sector. Art by Post has given us a really positive way to redeploy artists we were working with before the pandemic hit, as well as allowing us to invest in new connections with artists who we have commissioned to design the creative booklets and activities. We’re looking forward to working with many more artists across the UK as the project grows. 

When the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall was built in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain, our mission was to act as a ‘tonic for the nation’ by providing culture for all. In 2020 we are determined to continue in this mission, even if our doors are closed. We want to remain true to the values of our centre that we know and love, and build on them even more when we reopen once again.

Find out more

If you’re interested in taking part in Art by Post, or know someone who would benefit, find out more >