Can you use art to restore the health of a community?

Health is a function of communities as much as it’s a function of individuals. If you live in a strong community—one that has strong relationships, a shared identity, resources, and a sense of purpose—then you are likely to be healthy. But if your community loses its strength then your health is likely to suffer. How might such a community’s strength be restored?Bishop Auckland in County Durham is a community that has suffered severe decline. In medieval times it was the home of the bishops of Durham, who for centuries from the Norman Conquest were in effect the kings of the north. The arrival of the railways in the early 19th century led to a huge growth in coal mining and 60 local collieries. At one point a third of the men in County Durham worked as miners, and the annual Durham Miners’ Gala was a great and colourful festival. But…
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