Call for Expressions of Interest - Artsenta 40th Anniversary Symposium on Creativity and Wellbeing

Artsenta was a visionary initiative instigated by Superintendent Julia Aranui-Faed as the Creative Expression Unit at Cherry Farm Mental Hospital in 1986. From the beginning it was established as an independent, stand-alone entity that would continue once Cherry Farm was closed down. Since then it has operated in five different locations in Dunedin and has touched the lives of thousands of people.

For forty years, Artsenta has been quietly proving something powerful: creativity changes lives. Working alongside people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges, Artsenta has created a welcoming studio where art is not about perfection or performance – it is about expression, connection, and belonging. Every day, people walk through the doors carrying difficult stories and leave having made something: a painting, a poem, a friendship, a moment of calm, a sense of possibility. 

Over four decades, thousands of artworks have been created, countless conversations shared, and many lives strengthened through the simple but profound act of making. Artsenta has witnessed how creative practice can build confidence, reduce isolation, support recovery, and offer new ways for people to understand themselves and the world around them. 

Artsenta, celebrating its 40th anniversary on 17 June 2026, is inviting expressions of interest, from across the country and the world, for presentations at its symposium exploring the role of creativity in supporting and enhancing wellbeing. 

To be held in Ōtepoti Dunedin in October 2026, the symposium will bring together the creative spaces, researchers, artists, educators, community leaders, and others who are passionate about, or interested in, how creative practices and spaces contribute to individual and collective wellbeing. 

The event will foster dialogue between the creative, community and health sectors, and share some of the insights, experiences, and research from across Aotearoa New Zealand.

We want to bring together people who believe in the transformative power of creativity. The symposium will enable people working at the intersection of creativity and wellbeing to share innovative and inspiring stories, evidence, ideas and practice. We also want to raise awareness of the valuable work happening at creative spaces around the motu every day.

Presentations themes may include topics such as:

• The relationship between creativity and mental health

• Creative practice and resilience

• Arts-based approaches to health and social care

• Community arts and social connection

• Indigenous perspectives on creativity and wellbeing

• Creativity in public health and policy

• Measuring and evidencing the impact of creativity on wellbeing

Contributions in a range of formats are welcomed, including:

• Short research presentations

• Practice-based case studies

• Panel discussions

• Participatory or performative contributions

Online presentations will be considered but there is a preference for in-person presentations.