The multitude of visions and concerns voiced in this issue point towards groundbreaking research taking place around the world. Attentive to the urgent need for expanding this interdisciplinary debate, the Arts Health Early Career Research Network (ECRN) aims to foster a global community of early career researchers whose work lies at the intersection of the arts, humanities, health and medicine. We welcome Mandeep Singh, the Head of Representatives for the Arts Health ECRN, who would like to share the Network’s vision with our readers:
Brian Eno invented a fascinating and important word: scenius
Mandeep Singh*
Scenius is “the intelligence of a whole operation or group of people”. It is the ecology of our intellectual breakthroughs. Looking through the history of big ideas – be them in art, science or health – communities and networks play a crucial role. From the birth of Surrealism in Parisian cafes, to the rise of tech giants via MIT dorm-room chats, to the ideas sparked when a group of friends discuss a university lecture over coffee – the seeds which allow individuals to shine are planted by their communities. Scenius.
This is great news for biologists, brain surgeons, choreographers and visual artists. Their remit – and thus communities – have existed for ages, are well-defined and thus stay connected. But what about us?
Being too scientific for most artists and too artistic for most traditional scientists, arts and health researchers occupy a somewhat isolated position both in relation to other fields and itself. There is no single high-powered journal where we can easily find one another. Conferences are many but are usually relatively small and tend to be local. And so, we must find other ways of curating our community and engaging in the sacred exchange of ideas and tools which allows disciplines to progress.
The curation and maintenance of this community is the aim of the Arts and Health Early Career Research Network (ECRN). With over 650 members from the UK, USA, Greece, Canada, India, Australia, Norway, Singapore and more, it has so far been highly successful in this endeavour.
The network has a simple structure. Areas (which could be anything from a large city to an entire country) are designated a Representative, who volunteers for the role. Representatives aim to keep the Members in their area active and exchanging ideas by hosting at least two ‘LINK’ events per year. These events could be simple pub conversations, gallery visits, conferences, workshops or anything else that brings people together. A list of blogs from prior events can be found here.
By signing up to be a Member, you will receive monthly updates as to what’s happening globally in the Arts and Health world, as well as receiving updates about events in your specific area. You will have the opportunity to find details of other members in your area and connect. You can ask for support in organising your own events. You can also apply to be a Representative, becoming a pillar of your arts and health community.
The Network encourages events to be immersive. King’s College London hosted a Performance in Healthcare conference which interspersed academic talks with drama therapy, a freestyle rap workshop and musical performances. Other events have followed suit, cementing a theoretical understanding with an embodied, emotive experience. Events like these are a powerful way to learn, and our field has the potential for them like no other does.
To get involved in events like these, or arrange some yourself, you can sign up to the network here.
*Mandeep Singh (Mandeep The MC) is the Head of Representatives for the Arts Health ECRN. As a 4th year medical student at King’s College London, he also acts as the Vice President for the KCL Health and Humanities Society. He combines passions for psychiatry, hip-hop and the saxophone, exploring the health benefits of writing and improvisation and having run rap workshops for schools, medical students and on psychiatric wards. His published individual music showcases story telling in clinical contexts. His jazz and hip-hop fusion band will be releasing their EP in mid-June 2018. Please do get in touch at Mandeep.m.singh@kcl.ac.uk for any queries, collaborations, performance/speaking requests or just to exchange ideas.
