The Arts Wellbeing Collective was established in 2017 by Arts Centre Melbourne to support mental health and normalise conversations about mental health in the performing arts industry.
The Collective, which served an urgent need at the time and again throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, provided training and capacity building to hundreds of member organisations and individuals to support mental health and wellbeing in the creative industries. It filled a gap in the market at the time, which has since been complemented by similar services nationwide supporting mental health and wellbeing in the performing arts sector.
With a range of organisations now providing similar services, the Collective transitioned to an online archive of resources in December 2024. Browse the archive of online resources here
Arts Centre Melbourne would like to thank the organisations who participated in the Arts Wellbeing Collective, the many dedicated facilitators and trainers who delivered its programs and the many donors and supporters who made it possible.
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
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:
Experienced symptoms of moderate to severe depression
0
%
Experienced symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety
0
%
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.Â
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.”              Â
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.
Funding from WorkSafe Victoria culminates in the comprehensive WorkWell Guide. The launch of our three year strategic plan places diversity, access, collaboration and sustainability at the heart of our program. We produce the Digital Shorts series, so that everyone can access and freely share information on our most requested topics, regardless of location. Our Lived Experience Advisory Group is recruited.
The Collective develops, trials and launches a refreshed training program. A fee-for-service model will enable the Collective to deliver in-demand workshops without dependency on funding . As always, free resources continue to be commissioned and made available.
While staying true to its performing arts roots, the Collective begins to broaden its audience to all creative industries.
To date, the Collective has:
member organisations
0
individual members
0
Delivered more than
workshops and presentations, both in person and online
0
Reached more than
people nationally and internationally
0
Co-designed and delivered over
tailored mental health resources and workshops
0
Consulted with the leadership teams of more than
performing arts companies
0
Presented accredited Mental Health First Aid Training to over
performing arts workers
0
So what comes next?Â
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
