Creative Arts at the Heart of Health Research: Lived Experience Explored in ARC National Webinar
The power of creative arts took centre stage in the second webinar of the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARC) national #ARCseminar series, held on Wednesday 11 June 2025. The session, titled 'Exploring Lived Experience with Creative Arts,' highlighted how poetry, theatre, photography, and illustration are helping to give voice to people whose experiences are often underrepresented in health and care research.
The event, which attracted 268 viewers, was chaired by Professor Caroline Sanders, Professor of Medical Sociology at the University of Manchester and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead for NIHR ARC Greater Manchester. She guided the session with a focus on inclusion, compassion, and the role of participatory methods in producing meaningful, applied research.
Watch a recording of the seminar below:
Trauma-informed creative expression with families in temporary accommodation
The first presentation came from Professor Monica Lakhanpaul (NIHR ARC North Thames), who introduced two key projects: CHAMPIONS and PSP-REFUGEE. These studies co-developed creative methods—including poetry, theatre, music and photography—with children and families living in temporary accommodation, as well as refugee and asylum-seeking parents.
Lakhanpaul explained how using trauma-informed approaches helped children and parents share their stories safely, with artistic outputs then used to influence service design and local authority strategies. The projects highlighted the potential of arts-led research to cross boundaries between health, education, and community support.
View Monica’s Presentation Slides Here
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Theatre as a tool for uncovering maternal experiences in prison
Dr Laura Abbott (NIHR ARC East of England) followed with a powerful talk on the Lost Mothers project. A registered midwife and Associate Professor in Research at the University of Hertfordshire, Abbott described how her work uses verbatim theatre to convey the lived experiences of pregnant women in prisons—many of whom are separated from their babies.
The plays, co-produced with the charity Birth Companions, have been used in workshops and policy settings to inform health professionals, prison staff and government decision-makers. The research also connects internationally via the Pregnancy in Prison Partnership International (PIPPI), reflecting the growing need for trauma-sensitive maternal care in justice settings.
View Laura’s Presentation Slides Here.
Painting a fuller picture: Gypsy and Traveller women’s experiences of pregnancy
The final talk was a joint presentation by Barbara Czyznikowska (ARC East Midlands & Centre for Ethnic Health Research (CEHR)) and Lis Naylor, a Leicester-based artist and poet. The pair shared their work exploring the views of Gypsy and Traveller women on pregnancy and maternity care through co-produced visual and written art.
The project created a safe, culturally sensitive space for women to express themselves using artistic methods. The resulting works have since been shared with health and community services to build greater understanding and reduce stigma. Barbara explained how the use of creative arts fostered trust and connection, while Lis spoke about the emotional impact of visual storytelling and its ability to communicate beyond words.
View Barbara’s Presentation Slides Here
Attendee feedback
Looking ahead
Join the next #ARCseminar: Creative arts for dementia, Wed 9th July, 1-2pm: eventbrite.com/e/creative-arts-for-dementia-tickets-1248698794709
Resources and further reading will be available on our upcoming Knowledge Mobilisation webpage, coming soon.
Follow @NIHRARCs on X or @nihrarcs.bsky.social on Bluesky for announcements, and sign up for the national NIHR ARCs newsletter to stay informed about future events in the 2025 #ARCseminar series.