Healing Arts Scotland 2026: D&G Day

Tuesday 16th June, 2026
Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton

The Healing Arts Scotland 2026 Dumfries & Galloway Day, hosted by OutPost Arts, takes place on Tuesday 16th June. Bringing together artists, health professionals, community groups and the wider public, this regional gathering creates space to share practice, spark collaboration and explore how creative approaches can support health and wellbeing. The day centres on a conference at Easterbrook Hall, with panel discussions, keynote and spotlight speakers and creative wellbeing activity.

The programme also features newly commissioned work by regional artists. Jim Buchanan will present a participatory land art project across local greenspaces, while Heather Bestel shares Magical Meditations for Kids, combining music, storytelling and art to support children, alongside accessible resources for those who work with them. An accompanying exhibition will bring together Heather’s work alongside documentation of Jim’s commission, ensuring a rich and flexible display of creative activity. The day concludes with an evening celebration featuring live music, produced by Arts D&G and Paragon in association with Loch Arthur Community.

For 2026, Healing Arts Scotland is guided by three core themes that shape both the conference programme and the creative commissions. Arts, Health and the Environment explores the connections between natural environments, artistic practice and improved physical and mental wellbeing. Innovation in Arts & Health highlights new methods and creative interventions that merge cultural practice with healthcare. Arts & Health Across Life Stages focuses on how the arts can support wellbeing from early childhood through to ageing, including tailored approaches for dementia care. Together, these themes foster dialogue around the role of arts in health and advocate for the inclusion of creative practice within NHS Scotland and community-led initiatives.

Part of a wider initiative developed with the World Health Organization and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, Healing Arts Scotland champions the role of arts, culture and heritage in improving health outcomes. In Dumfries & Galloway, the day reflects a growing momentum, strengthening cross-sector partnerships and exploring how creative and environmentally sensitive approaches can support healthier, more connected communities.

Programme

Healing Arts Scotland Dumfries & Galloway Day is part of a national programme of creative health and wellbeing events taking place across Scotland from 15th – 19th June, 2026.