Opening Ceremony - Launch of Healing Arts Birmingham

The Opening Ceremony for Healing Arts Birmingham was co-ordinated by Birmingham City Council Public Health and the Jameel Arts and Health Lab, hosted by B:Music, and supported by Healing Arts Birmingham Partners.

At the heart of the ceremony was a specially curated programme, featuring artists and projects that showcased the incredible power of music to enhance wellbeing, reduce isolation and forge connections. Performers included:

• Birmingham Poet Laureate Ayan Aden
• The Halas Homes Sing and Sign Choir
• Sampad South Asian Arts and Heritage, showcasing their 'Let's Dance' project
• Singer songwriter Emilia Quinn and local band, the Lost Notes
• B:Music's own 'Tea and Jam' group, which offers free music making activities for unpaid carers and vulnerable adults

Speakers included:

• B:Music Chief Executive Nick Reed provided an official welcome, and the ceremony was compered by Head of Development and Impact Rachel Cranny.
• Jameel Arts & Health Lab's Co-Directors Dr. Nisha Sajnani and Stephen Stapleton, gave Opening Remarks.
• Regional Director of Public Health - South West & National Lead for Creative Health at the Department of Health & Social Care, Justin Varney-Bennett, spoke to the National Significance.
• Scotland's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Gregor Smith, and Chief Medical Officer of Public Health Scotland, Manira Ahmed, spoke to the value of Arts and Health for Public Health.
• Chair of the Speciality Interest Group - Faculty of Public Health and Interim Director of Public Health Dudley Metropolitan Council, Heema Shukla, made a special announcement on behalf of the Faculty of Public Health.
• National Centre for Creative Health's Director, Alex Coulter, spoke to the significance of the current UK Arts & Health movement.

The Opening Ceremony was hosted by B:Music, the charity responsible for Symphony Hall and Town Hall in Birmingham. In addition to running two world renowned venues, B:Music's extensive community outreach and youth programmes harness the unique power of music to transform lives, inspire creativity, and bring people together. Over the past few years, they have worked with local charity partners such as Forward Carers, Midland Mencap and Age UK to develop impactful activities that demonstrate the potential of music and the arts to improve public health.

This closed-door event formally introduced Healing Arts Birmingham week and outlined the intent of the activation.