About
The Arts Wellbeing Collective is an industry-led workplace mental health initiative by Arts Centre Melbourne.
Our purpose is to empower the performing arts sector to create mentally healthy workplaces.
We draw on the expertise of our performing arts community, including our very own Lived Experience Advisory Group, and a range of health professionals to create our resources and programs. We advocate for the mental wellbeing of all performing artists and arts workers; and celebrate positive change that allows the performing arts industry and its people to flourish.
What do we do?
We CELEBRATE progress by sharing:
- Best practice stories
- Expertise and ideas
- Links to research
- Website hub
We EDUCATE by delivering:
- Training programs
- Digital events
- Practical resources
- Risk and strength assessing
We ADVOCATE for the wellbeing of performing arts workers through:
- Submissions to government
- Peer learning opportunities
- Presentations and speeches
- Supporting sector leaders
Awards
The Arts Wellbeing Collective team have delivered presentations on international stages including the Tessitura Learning & Community Conference in Orlando, Florida and the International Society for the Performing Arts Congress in New York, and have received several accolades including:
Winner, Principal Award 2021
Mental Health Promotion or Mental Illness Prevention Award
Winner, Principal Award 2021
Most Outstanding Fundraising Project, FIA Awards for Excellence
Joint winner 2021
Best Pivot Award, FIA Awards for Excellence
Finalist 2020 & 2021 Claire Spencer AM
Australian Mental Health Prize
WINNER 2019
Martin Seligman Health and Wellbeing Award, AHRI Awards
FINALISTS 2017, 2018 & 2019
The VicHealth Awards, Improving Mental Wellbeing
FINALIST 2017
The Australian HR Awards, Best Health & Wellbeing Program
Why were we founded?
In 2016, Entertainment Assist and Victoria University released new research into the industry entitled, Working in the Australian Entertainment Industry: Final Report (van den Eynde, Fisher & Sonn, 2016). The report engaged with entertainment industry workers from across the sector – from performers to producers, dancers to directors, and a wide variety of management, production and technical roles. It uncovered startling statistics.
Of the entertainment industry workers surveyed:
With indicators of poor mental health so prevalent across all roles, there was an urgent need to create industry-wide positive systemic cultural change.
Recognising that the need was whole-of-industry, Arts Centre Melbourne sought funding to trial a response, and engaged an Advisory Group of experienced industry professionals. This lead to the Pilot Program of the Arts Wellbeing Collective in 2017.
Our Timeline
Arts Centre Melbourne is exploring mental health and wellbeing programs for the Arts Centre Melbourne team. At the same time, research emerges highlighting a striking discrepancy in prevalence of mental health problems between performing arts workers across all roles and the general population.
Recognising that the issues are sector-wide, Arts Centre Melbourne conceives the Arts Wellbeing Collective with a small group of partners and supporters.
The Arts Wellbeing Collective Pilot Program is launches in February and concludes in November.
An independent review found there was ‘a desire for the program to continue and expand… There was relief that the program had started and gratitude to Arts Centre Melbourne for making it happen.”
In-depth strategy and planning gather pace. Funding is secured from WorkSafe Victoria’s WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund. Program officially launches on World Mental Health Day 10 October, 2018.
Year 1 of program roll out. Focus areas include touring, performance, de-role, production, reducing stigma, and access to support for those outside organisational structures.
Year 2 of program roll out. Focus areas include performance thriving, creating mentally healthy workplaces and creative self-care. COVID-19 significantly impacts the industry. The Arts Wellbeing Collective pivots to increased digital delivery of resources and services. Arts Centre Melbourne’s Emergency Appeal seeks funds to fast-track Arts Wellbeing Collective initiatives.
Year 3 of program roll out. Focus areas include supporting COVID-Safe re-openings, leading through change and uncertainty, and creating mentally healthy workplaces. COVID-19 continues to significantly impact the industry, creating ever-growing demand for the Arts Wellbeing Collective’s resources, programs and services.
To date, the Collective has:
Delivered more than
Reached more than
Co-designed and delivered over
Consulted with the leadership teams of more than
Presented accredited Mental Health First Aid Training to over
So what comes next?
To find out how we’re going to continue to support the performing arts industry, download our strategic plan.
The Arts Wellbeing Collective currently aims to:
- Ensure First Nations people and perspectives are at the heart of the program
- Prioritise equity and access in program design, delivery, and evaluation
- Collaborate with performing arts industry on program design, delivery, and evaluation
- Champion practices, policy and systems that promote positive health and wellbeing in performing arts workplaces
- Build a sustainable future for the Arts Wellbeing Collective
