Launching a New Vision for Health, Diversity and Creativity
We are thrilled to officially launch Culturally Mindful—a bold new Creative Health residency and training programme bringing together Global Majority artists, healthcare providers, and grassroots organisations to reimagine how we support health and wellbeing in Wandsworth.
Designed as a legacy from our Arts for Health & Wellbeing pilot initiative and funded by the Mayor of London as part of our London Borough of Culture programme, this initiative was born out of a clear need: to address persistent racial and cultural inequalities in health care and wellbeing outcomes, and to ensure that the creative health offer reflects and serves the communities most affected.
Over the next nine months, ten exceptional artists will co-design and deliver creative health programmes in partnership with local clinical and community settings. At its core, this is a programme rooted in co-production, cultural humility, and care.
We are proud to be partnering with four clinical settings that are leading the way in integrating creative practice into health and care environments:
- St George’s Hospital (St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
- Queen Mary’s Hospital (St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
- Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN)
- Springfield University Hospital (Southwest London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust)
“St George’s Hospital Charity are really looking forward to being a key partner for the ‘Culturally Mindful’ programme and the opportunity to use our expertise and brilliant artists to train and mentor a new pool of creatives in this important area of work, for the benefit of our patients, staff and visitors.” Grace Lindley, Arts Engagement Manager, St George's Hospital Charity
Equally vital to this work are our grassroots host organisations—community anchors who provide ongoing care, connection, and creativity across Wandsworth:
- National Trust – 575 Wandsworth Road
- Roehampton wellbeing for women and children
- Share Community
- Wandsworth Carers
- Youth Battersea
Together, these partnerships will support creative residencies that are deeply responsive to the needs of children and young people, carers, disabled adults and people affected by mental ill-health from underserved communities.
"We at Share Community are absolutely delighted to have been selected to take part in the Culturally Mindful Programme. As a service that aims to empower adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs, we believe this inspiring initiative will bring immense value to our students, enriching their lives through inclusive, culturally responsive and expressive experiences that promote wellbeing, confidence and joy." Eve Bradshaw, Creative Programmes Coordinator, Share Community
Now, meet the artists at the heart of this work:
- Francis Augusto – A documentary photographer whose practice centres vulnerability, identity, and emotional connection.
- Asma Istwani – A cultural producer and collage artist committed to making the arts joyful, rebellious, and radically accessible.
- Ken Nwadiogbu – A multidisciplinary artist using portraiture to explore migration, perception, and collective care.
- Rebecca Olajide – A visual artist whose home-based practice brings intimacy and depth to health and community engagement.
- Roopa Basu – A designer and visual artist whose layered, participatory works explore memory, light, and belonging.
- Saira Niazi – A writer and renegade guide creating space for reflection and belonging through storytelling and walking.
- Shiza Naveed – A public artist and researcher creating collaborative murals and counter-narratives rooted in memory and place.
- Tsipora St Clair Knights – A poet, dancer, and facilitator using movement and breathwork to hold space for healing and transformation.
- Youyang Song – A theatre-maker and clown working across language and discipline to foster joyful, inclusive connection
- Tanya Acquah – A theatre-maker and facilitator using performance to promote emotional wellbeing and social change among women, girls, and young people.
This first cohort brings incredible range, integrity and lived experience to the creative health field. Over the coming months, they will take part in intensive training, reflective practice, shadowing, and residencies—developing projects in direct partnership with communities and host organisations. They will also benefit from Mental Health First Aid and Trauma-Informed Practice training, to ensure that they are fully equipped to support the communities that they will work with.
Culturally Mindful is more than a programme. It’s an invitation to transform how we think about care, creativity and who gets to lead in health-based work. It’s about opening doors, shifting power, and building practices that centre the knowledge, brilliance and resilience of Global Majority communities.
We can’t wait to share more with you as the work unfolds. The journey starts now.