I hope you are all well and positive during this challenging time for the arts and heritage sector.
We were very disappointed to have to cancel our Forum on 18th March. Our planned keynote speaker Jenni Regan, Director of London Arts and Health, wrote to say she is looking forward to coming to speak to us when it is all over. Another speaker, Sonal Mehta of the NHS, also wrote to me to say that she is thinking of putting together some self-care signposting info on tips for people to stay fit and well in body and mind over coming weeks and months. I will share any resources that come through from Sonal.
Our quarterly forums gives us all a chance to connect as AHA-MK members and with friends and supporters, and foster a sense of a local cultural community. As we are asked to work from home and self-isolate it is vital for us to work hard to keep connecting as a sector and community. While face to face contact is now discouraged, our access to virtual communication remains. AHA-MK sees this as its lifeline to the arts and heritage community over the next few months. Indeed, the creation of any art form via virtual pathways will be a positive response to the current climate. In this 2020 context, the existence of a virtual world gives us opportunities to be creative and relevant.
We will ensure our monthly newsletter goes out regularly to share news and updates addressing the current challenges. If anyone has a suggestion for a new section of the newsletter which you feel would be of interest/comfort to the sector at this time please let me know. This newsletter can become a resource centre for articles to keep us healthy or that inform us of any national updates in the arts. Send any news you have to elizabeth@aha-mk.org .
We can all carry on with meetings over the phone or via Skype/Zoom/Microsoft Teams etc.
Best wishes,
Elizabeth Howard