Day one of Creativity and Wellbeing Week sets the tone for the national programme under the theme of Critical Hope for Acute Times. The theme acknowledges the increasing precarity in the health and care sectors including the impending NHS redundancies, ongoing instability in funding for Creative Health and the rising pressures linked to planetary health and climate change. Hear from cutting edge speakers, network and re-energise at this free event to kick start our festival for 2026.

Read more about the festival theme, Critical Hope here.

This event will gather the sector in a space of critical hope, reconnecting practitioners with their passion and inviting visions for the future of Creative Health. You can expect exciting panel discussions, Q&A, artistic activity and networking.

At the National Theatre. London Arts & Health anticipate the event to sell out with practitioners, NHS colleagues, artists, funders and policy makers joining to mark the opening of the festival.

All attendees will be able to take home a unique Critical Hope badge created by the Badge Cafe!

Featuring:

• Chair and host: Thahmina Begum
• Anna Woolf: London Arts and Health
• Yamin Choudury: National Theatre
• Emmanuella Morsi : Artist, Production Manager and Researcher
• Maren Ellermann: Counterpoints Arts
• Dan Hopewell: Bromley By Bow Centre
• Dr Simon Opher MP: Chair of the APPG on Creative Health
• Rachel Millward: Deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales
• With resident artist from Hoxton Hall: Aaron Appiah-Anderson

About the venue:

Arrive from 10am in the foyer of the National Theatre and follow the signs for the event which will take place at the Buffini Chao Deck. You can purchase a hot drink to bring up from the cafe to enjoy during the event. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible.

Get your tickets here