I’ve enjoyed a few of ‘jollys’ over the past couple of weeks as I attended conferences related to two of my passions – Men’s Mental / Physical health and Town Centres. The former, a coming together of likeminded projects that use creativity to improve men’s mental health was provided by The Baring Foundation. It was fascinating to hear about the breadth of provision – from music tech to film to painting to dance and so on – but also deeply humbling to learn of some of the truly challenging issues faced by the men in – and the consequent difficulties related to recruiting and retaining numbers. I was in the minority as my own work – with Infant Hercules – whilst very much an example of how singing and music can be used to help men feel better – grows – almost weekly as we bellow our way across the community.
On route speak at a separate event I was talking to one of the choir – joining me to share the story of his experience living with cancer. He hit on something that really resonated with me and perhaps illustrates why Infant Hercules ‘works’. He was saying how unusual it was to get a group of men together who are united by the ‘singing / creative’ experience which somehow provides a context for their ‘differences’ not to matter. Consequently the shared experience allows them – somehow gives permission for other connections to be made. He pointed out that this is different to a ‘support group’ scenario where the ‘commonality’ is often defined by a problem – an issue. In the case of Infant Hercules the collaboration to make a ‘wall of sound’ is almost so ‘odd’ that the ordinary act becomes extraordinary – setting the bar to live out the mantra, if we can sing about it we can talk about it. Issues are still tackled – but as a matter of course rather than definition.
In between those two conferences I head to Manchester to hear a number of speakers talk about the future of City and Town centres. As I have started working closely with Stockton Business Improvement District it was interesting to hear different approaches to ‘regeneration’ and High Street usage. Inspiring, large scale programmes of work were presented side by side with smaller, subtle, quirky approaches but there was a definite through-line – create sociable connections and change comes about. Tell the story – enable the storytellers – forge relationships. I felt reassured by this message because, as anyone who knows my work will hopefully testify, I am a passionate sociable being! The music – the art – don’t matter – well they do – but not as much as the social connections they create. And out of social connection comes the realisation of new ideas. It’s why I unapologetically work in Pubs and other social club environments. My work could probably work in ‘community hubs’ and centres – but not in the same way. I think it is so important to maximise the potential for anyone and everyone to feel a part of ‘change’. If we only put likeminded people together we will only ever get a limited amount of ideas… In his book ‘Rebel Ideas’, Matthew Syed describes this as collective blindness – pointing out that companies, governments, sports teams etc that tend to recruit the same repeated type of thinker – will never reach their potential.
Returning to the issues faced by the Men’s Mental Health programme I started this blog with, one of the things I took away is that when faced with the complexities of helping men to ‘feel better’, relying on artists with limited experience / confidence to work in mental health settings – no matter how well meaning will more often than not result in a disconnect. The Artist ‘knows best’ – and is rightly passionate about their creative reputation – forgetting that they are in a room of creative minds that might have different – dare I say – better ideas. I am always reminded of Sir Ken Robinson’s anecdote about the child who drew God. During an art class in an infant school, a girl was busily drawing on her paper. When asked what she was drawing by the teacher she replied ‘God’. The teacher laughed and said ‘Don’t be silly – no one knows what God looks like’. Without raising her eyes the child responded ‘They will in a minute’. The true community artist needs to ensure that they are constantly adapting to satisfy not their – but the creative potential of each person in the room. Collaboration is key. Listening is much more important than talking or – in my case, singing. Singing a song becomes so much more impactful when you are sure your voice has been heard.
It’s the same when thinking about our town centres. There are millions being spent on ‘high streets of the future’ but pennies – if anything being invested to create the spaces that young people and children wish to see… (ever heard a child say what I REALLY want to do is to go shopping?). Stockton is trying something described by many as ‘radical’… it has knocked down well over half of its once proud high street – replacing it with a riverside Park – complete with spaces to sit, to enjoy events, to let children play. Economically this may – at least in short term be folly – but, in a Borough where there is a 20 year difference in life expectancy depending on your postcode, the benefits to lives are invaluable. AND – in creating space where people can talk, connect, ‘be’ – the ideas for a different community may actually be heard. Divide and Rule… Connect and Grow.
Ref 1. Matthew Syed – Rebel Thought 2. Sir Ken Robinson – The Element
Blind Tiger 
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