Call for Grassroots Organisations: Join the Culturally Mindful Programme
Are you a grassroots organisation in Wandsworth committed to improving community health and wellbeing? Do you want to integrate creativity into your support services? This is your chance to take part in an exciting sector development programme that brings together local organisations and Global Majority artists to co-design culturally relevant creative health initiatives.
Deadline 13 April
As part of Wandsworth’s London Borough of Culture, Culturally Mindful is a pioneering programme that empowers grassroots organisations to collaborate with trained artists in delivering creative health activities. Running from June 2025 to March 2026, the programme aims to address health inequalities by embedding arts-based interventions into community settings.
What’s in it for your organisation?
Participating grassroots organisations will receive:
- £1,500 contribution towards your staffing costs
- A fully funded 6-month creative health residency – pairing your organisation with an experienced Global Majority artist.
- Free training and capacity building – you will nominate a dedicated staff member to participate in upskilling sessions on creative health practice.
- Bespoke co-designed activities – tailored creative health interventions that respond to the needs of your service users.
- Networking opportunities – collaboration with other grassroots organisations, NHS services, and cultural practitioners.
- Increased visibility – become part of Wandsworth’s growing Community of Creative Health Practice.
Who can apply?
This opportunity is for grassroots organisations that:
- Are based in Wandsworth.
- Work with underserved communities, including those facing mental health inequalities, socio-economic disadvantage, or cultural barriers to care.
- Are willing to host an artist-in-residence and engage in co-designing creative health activities.
- Can commit one staff member or long-term volunteer to attend training and support the residency process.
What to expect?
Participating organisations will:
- Attend training and shadowing sessions – Gain insight into creative health approaches and support an artist as they develop a residency within your organisation.
- Host two co-design sessions – Work alongside the artist and your service users to shape a creative health intervention.
- Host one site visit by the cohort – an opportunity to showcase your work
- Provide ongoing mentorship – Support the artist’s residency through regular check-ins and participation in action learning sets.
- Facilitate access to your community – Ensure meaningful engagement by introducing the artist to your service users and co-developing activities that align with their needs.
Programme Timeline
- Training days : 5th June – 16th Oct, with a summer break from 23rd July to 1st Sept
- Residency Dates: 16th Oct – 18th Dec 2025 and 8th Jan – 12th Feb 2026
- Evaluation & Sharing: March – May 2026
Have questions? Need more details?
There will be a Q&A session for potential host organisations on Tues 27th March at 11am. You can join on Teams by pressing here.
Meeting ID: 395 523 393 998
Passcode: fv6G57pQ
How to Apply
If your organisation is interested in being a host partner for Culturally Mindful, please complete the form with the following details or upload a 5 min audio or video that details:
- Organisation name, mission, and contact information.
- A brief description of the community you serve and how creative health interventions could benefit them.
- Details of the staff member or volunteer who will support the programme (must be from the global majority).
- Any previous experience with creative health or social prescribing (not essential).
- Any specific needs or support your organisation would require to participate.
Deadline for applications: Midnight Sunday 13th April 2025