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Advocates for Representation in Creative Health

Building a more equitable creative health sector through leadership, advocacy and collective action.

Advocates for Representation in Creative Health (ARCH) is a collective of Black, Brown, Asian and mixed heritage creative health leaders in London, working together since 2024 to influence policy, challenge inequity and strengthen representation across the creative health sector.

 

WHY ARCH EXISTS:

Representation isn’t simply about who is visible. It is about whose knowledge is trusted, whose lived experience shapes policy, whose leadership influences change. ARCH was established in 2024 to bring together creative health leaders who have experienced racism and are committed to transforming the sector from within.

Convened by London Arts and Health, we exist to move conversations about representation beyond visibility and towards accountability, influence and lasting systemic change. Through public events, webinars, strategic advocacy and sector leadership ARCH creates spaces where practitioners, communities and decision makers can think differently, and act collectively.

OUR WORK

Future full of collaboration and connections.

We all want it. We all need it.

ARCH members bring expertise from across health, arts, research, community development and anti-racist practice. Since 2025 we have curated a public facing programme to encourage provocation, develop knowledge, increase sector awareness and create opportunities for action.

  • CONVENE – We bring the sector together to have courageous conversations about representation and equity.
  • ADVOCATE – We champion the voices and lived experiences of communities who are underrepresented within creative health.
  • INFLUENCE- We provide strategic insight, critical challenge and recommendations that shape policy, programmes and leadership.
  • COLLABORATE – We build partnerships across arts, culture, health, academia and community organisations to strengthen the sector together.

OUR EVENTS

Our events are designed to move beyond discussion, creating opportunities for learning, collaboration and practical action that strengthen representation, leadership and equity across the sector.

MARCH 2026 - REPRESENTATION IN PRACTICE

What does meaningful inclusion look like? 

ARCH’s inaugural public webinar brought together creative health leaders to explore what meaningful inclusion looks like in practice. ARCH chair Dr Tola Dabiri and members Gay Palmer and Cedric Whilby led presentations, panel discussions and facilitated breakout conversations to examine the personal weight of representation, the current window of opportunity for systemic change and the importance of passing the baton to future leaders. The session encouraged practical reflection and generated ideas that continue to inform ARCH’s work. 

MAY 2026 - CRITICAL HOPE

CREATIVITY AND WELLBEING WEEK 2026

As part of CWW, ARCH curated a sold-out afternoon at the National Theatre exploring the theme of Critical Hope. Bringing together artists, from LAH’s Artist Represent Recovery Network and LBOC Wandsworth Project Culturally Mindful alongside sector leaders, practitioners, funders, researchers and commissioners.

Inspired by the festival’s theme of Critical Hope the event created space to honestly confront the challenges facing creative health, while collectively imagining more equitable futures.

COMING UP:

Wed 9th Sept 2026 – Online
Cultural Contagion: Time, Being and Ill-being

We welcome you to be part of the conversation with us online for our upcoming webinar.

Together we’ll explore:

  • What responsibility do creative health, arts and cultural organisations have in recognising cultural trauma and creating spaces where more people can feel seen, valued and safe?

Rather than asking simply whether culture supports wellbeing, this conversation asks a more challenging question:

What are the health consequences of inhabiting cultural environments that deny, erase or distort your identity?

REGISTER HERE

“There’s a strange comfort in the déjà vu of these conversations—the same topics, new faces, the familiar rhythm of reinvention.

Still, there’s value in showing up… for the quiet hope that this time, the echo might turn into a song.”

WORK WITH ARCH

ARCH brings together some of London’s leading voices in creative health, arts, health care, research and community leadership. Our members collectively represent decades of experience spanning NHS leadership, social prescribing, participatory arts, academia, cultural policy, community engagement, artistic practice and anti-racist systems change.

Our Members:

      • Dr Tola Dabiri (Chair)
      • Cedric Whilby
      • Dr Errol Francis
      • Dr Mah Rana
      • Natasha Graham
      • Dr Sylvan Baker
      • Gay Palmer
      • Jide Ashimi
      • Daniel Regan

Our collective expertise enables us to support organisations across health, arts, culture, and education to embed equity, strengthen representation and develop creative health practice.

  • Strategic Consultancy
  • Anti-racism and equity training
  • Keynote speaking
  • Panel Discussions
  • Workshops and event facilitation
  • Leadership Development
  • Programme Design

Whether you’re looking to shape organisational strategy, develop your workforce or convene courageous conversations, ARCH can help.

GET IN TOUCH

Email our Project Manager – jemilea@londonartsandhealth.org.uk

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