Arts as a Source of Healing: A Home for Creative Health
At St Margaret's House, we have always believed in the transformative power of creativity. Over the past year, we have been contemplating our identity, purpose, and position within the wider community. This blog marks the next step in that journey. Here, we will share our strapline and the reasoning behind it, explaining why we have chosen to make it central to our future.
A Home for Creative Health
This is the strapline that now sits at the heart of our work: A Home for Creative Health. These five words reflect both our heritage and our direction. They recognise that St Margaret's House is a physical space where people come together, but also an ethos that embraces wellbeing through the arts. It is both an invitation and a commitment.
We have long served as a Bethnal Green arts and wellbeing centre, providing affordable spaces and platforms for artists, charities, and local residents. Over time, however, our role has developed. We increasingly recognise how deeply creativity is linked to emotional, physical, and social health. This connection is not theoretical. It is demonstrated daily through our yoga and movement classes, art workshops at The Create Place, social prescribing programmes, and even in the shared conversations over coffee at The Gallery Café.
Why Creative Health?
The term ‘creative health’ has emerged from increasing evidence that engaging with the arts can strengthen mental, emotional, and even physical recovery. It emphasises how artistic expression, community connections, and a sense of purpose combine to improve lives. As an East London centre for creative wellbeing, we fully embrace this approach.
At St Margaret's House, we observe not only the positive effects of creative activity on individual wellbeing but also actively create conditions that help these effects grow. Creative health initiatives in East London are varied, but what sets us apart is our integrated approach. We combine the arts, social care, and community involvement within a single system. Whether someone visits us to join a drawing class, receive therapeutic massage, or volunteer at our charity shop, they become part of a wider culture of support.
A Place Rooted in Community
The history of St Margaret's House reflects a strong commitment to social engagement. Since 1889, we have evolved to meet the changing needs of our community, while remaining dedicated to our principles of dignity, inclusion, and care. Today, these values manifest through our collaborations with local schools, our support for marginalised artists, and our ability to offer affordable space in a rapidly gentrifying city.
We believe that the connection between arts and mental health is especially vital now. As the pressures of urban living increase, and as communities confront the effects of inequality, displacement, and isolation, the need for creative responses becomes more urgent. Artistic practice is not a luxury. It is a means of processing trauma, shaping identity, and imagining different futures. It helps us breathe.
Our Spaces as Invitations
Each of our spaces at St Margaret's House plays a vital role in fulfilling our mission. The Gallery Café remains a warm and inclusive space for nourishment and conversation. The Create Place offers classes that welcome all skill levels and life experiences. Ayoka, our charity boutique, is more than a second-hand shop; it is a gateway to sustainable fashion and volunteering opportunities. The Canvas unites experienced facilitators and diverse groups for movement, meditation, and healing.
These spaces form the foundation of our creative health approach. They are accessible, affordable, and responsive to the needs of the people who use them. We often hear that what people value most about our offering is the sense of welcome and care. That is no coincidence. It is the result of an intentional culture, rooted in listening, co-creation, and a belief in each person's capacity to grow.
We also aim to foster an environment that promotes exploration and experimentation. Whether someone is picking up a paintbrush again after decades or a young person is finding their voice through poetry, our spaces welcome personal discovery. This sense of safety and support is crucial, especially for those who may have felt excluded from traditional arts settings.
We continue to consider how our spaces benefit the wider environment too. Sustainability is not just a buzzword; it guides our programmes, our cafe's plant-based menu, and our recycling and upcycling practices. Through this approach, we foster a mindful connection between healing, the arts, and our planet.
Beyond Programmes: An Ecosystem for Healing
Our work goes beyond individual activities. We strive to create an environment where wellbeing through the arts is not a one-time event but a sustainable way of life. This involves investing in artist residencies, establishing platforms for underrepresented voices, supporting collaborative projects, and ensuring that our programmes reflect the diverse makeup of our local community.
We also understand that healing is not always a straightforward journey. That is why our approach accommodates different speeds and routes. Some visitors may find fulfilment in a single workshop, while others may develop long-term connections through volunteering or regular classes. We welcome each path.
Furthermore, we are becoming more aware of how structural issues, such as housing insecurity, racism, discrimination against disabled people, or mental health stigma, can affect a person’s ability to fully participate in community life. Our dedication to innovative health initiatives in East London involves recognising these challenges and working to remove barriers wherever we can. We collaborate with organisations that support individuals facing complex needs, and we purposefully incorporate inclusive practices into our programmes.
Learning from Our Community
The wisdom within our community continually shapes us. Feedback from workshop participants, artists, tenants, and volunteers has been vital in refining our vision. One common theme we hear is the importance of feeling "seen" and "safe" in our spaces. In a city as vast and often impersonal as London, that sense of recognition is significant. It supports mental health, encourages risk-taking in creative practice, and fosters a sense of belonging.
We understand that creativity thrives when people feel secure and accepted. That is why we train our facilitators to foster inclusive and welcoming environments, and why we offer opportunities for people to influence the direction of our work. From co-created exhibitions to collaborative events, our programming benefits from the perspectives and talents of our community members.
Our staff are committed to learning and adapting. We actively pursue partnerships with mental health organisations, funders, and grassroots collectives to improve our knowledge and broaden our reach. By working together, we ensure our work stays relevant, effective, and well-grounded.
We also believe in the power of storytelling. Sharing stories, whether through visual art, performance, written word, or informal conversation, helps us connect across differences and affirm our shared humanity. As we develop our communications strategy, we aim to create more space for these stories to emerge, particularly those that reflect the lived experience of healing through creativity.
The Future We Imagine
Looking ahead, we plan to upgrade our buildings to better reflect our values of accessibility and sustainability. We want to ensure that our physical environment aligns with the care and creativity of our programming. These changes will take time, but they are crucial for the long-term well-being of our community.
We also aim to strengthen our role as an East London hub for creative wellbeing. This involves continuing to host thought-provoking exhibitions, providing residencies and mentoring for early-career artists, and enhancing our wellbeing programmes to address new and emerging needs.
There are promising opportunities ahead. We are investigating ways to integrate creative health initiatives more deeply into East London's local healthcare and social services, such as social prescribing. By showcasing the benefits of arts-based healing approaches, we can shape policy and help build a more compassionate public health system.
We are also exploring ways to make our resources and learning more widely accessible through online platforms, toolkits, and collaborative networks. We aim to support other communities, both in East London and beyond, in developing their own creative health initiatives.
Invitation to Join Us
We see St Margaret's House not just as a provider of services, but as a shared home for those who believe in the power of creativity. If you are reading this and feel curious, inspired, or hopeful, then you are part of our story. We invite you to attend a class, volunteer your time, share your art, or simply spend time in our spaces.
The connection between arts and mental health is not just a passing trend. It is a fundamental human truth that has existed across cultures and throughout history. By recognising it, fostering it, and welcoming others to participate, we are helping to create a new chapter for our community.
Our strapline, ‘A Home for Creative Health’, is more than just a slogan. It is a promise. It reflects who we are and who we are becoming. And we are pleased to be evolving in that direction, together with you.
Whether you are an artist, a healer, a neighbour, a dreamer, or someone simply seeking a place to belong, there is space for you here. Our doors are open. Come and be part of something meaningful.