I received an ACE Covid Support Award based on an application that talked of taking stock and ready-ing myself for what’s next. I have entered into coaching with Bryony Rowntree an artful practioner based in Leeds. Her work has been fascinating and generous. Her visioning and embodied approaches reveal new ways of thinking and working and offer insights into meeting people half way. Our sessions provide a held professional space which, given the heavy emotional work I do with people and groups, now seems essential.
It also draws attention to the often questionable duty of care for freelancers as we work increasingly in the void where services are lacking – mental health to name the obvious one. Perhaps as we move forward into times where ‘health and wellbeing support’ will become even more urgent we should consider and ask how budgets can be arranged to support artist to keep ourselves well too