Live Music Now is helping forge an ambitious arts and health movement in Shropshire, led by Dr Jane Povey. Together, we hope to bring live music and arts participation to all members of the community.
Jane has been a GP for twenty years and has been involved in medical management and leadership roles both locally and nationally. She supported the design and implementation of the new commissioning system in England and she is currently Deputy Medical Director for the UK Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management. She is also a keen amateur musician and plays principal flute in the local symphony orchestra.
‘’We do a lot as GPs keeping people alive and trying to solve problems, but very little around understanding individuals and enabling them to flourish despite their illnesses, disabilities and isolation.’’
After hearing Live Music Now ensemble Tempest Trio perform in Shrewsbury she was inspired to learn more about LMN's model for community outreach and musicians development. After a period of consultation, Live Music Now's North West branch sourced funding for a pilot programme of over 30 participatory performances at a wide range of venues across Shropshire, including day centre and care homes, schools, a mental health unit, hospital and hospice. LMN ensemble Trio Volant have been delivering the bulk of the work.
Trio Volant Clarinettist Thomas Evans said, 'We've worked closely with Jane not only in the delivery but also the planning of the programme, helping to create a wonderfully diverse series of concerts and workshops all over Shropshire.'
The development and evaluation of the multi-venue artist in residency is being led by Live Music Now Strategic Director’s Douglas Noble,‘‘With arts and health advocates like Dr Jane Povey working to establish and maintain cross-community links at a local level, national arts organisations like Live Music Now have the possibility of greater impact and a sustainable legacy.‘’
LMN musicians Icaris Duo performed last month at a care home in Shrewsbury.
''What we have experienced is a comunity coming together, united in music, irrespective that some individuals were experiencing a mental illness or learning difficulty. This is so fundamental as we begin to challenge society's values and attitudes towards mental illness and our service users take the journey of recovery: communities need to be inclusive, and that's what we achieved here.'' Neil Carr OBCE FRCN, Chief Executive of South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust
Creative Inspirations is now a Community Interest Company with the aim of collaboratively raising the resources and engaging audiences in high quality participatory music, to grow well-being, resilience and connections in Shropshire.
Jane says, ‘’We can’t do healthcare to people – they have to be engaged in being and remaining well and recovering. And just coping with life. What we’re trying to do is enable people, through music, to connect, engage and be active in optimising their happiness.’’
With Jane in town, we think folks will find it hard being anything but happy!
Photo credit: Ivan Gonzalez
