Creative Health: UK and Japan in conversation

Join us at Manchester Museum for a panel discussion on Creative Health.

How we use arts and creativity to support people’s health and wellbeing – is a fast developing field of work across the UK and Japan.

During Japan Week 2025, our colleagues, Sawako INANIWA and Takashi KIRIYAMA, from the innovative Art&Wellbeing aa-TOMO programme, Japan will join us, to talk about their practice with colleagues in Greater Manchester, and to identify ways we can collaborate and learn from each other.

aa-TOMO is an innovative and ambitious 10-year creative health and cultural prescribing research programme led by the National Center for Arts Research, Japan and the Tokyo University of the Arts. It is currently rolling out cultural prescribing programmes across local government areas in Japan, in partnership with a range of organisations including museums, universities, health partners and private industry.

During this event, programme lead and chief curator at NCAR, Sawako Inaniwa, will share progress they are making in harnessing the power of the huge range of cultural assets in Japan to support people’s health and wellbeing.

The panel discussion will include perspectives from Julie McCarthy- Strategic Lead, Creative Health at Greater Health for NHS Greater Manchester, Dr Hannah Waterson, Research Associate working with the Creative Health Greater Manchester Place Partnership and Civic University Board, Ciaron Wilkinson- Head of Partnerships and Engagement at Manchester Museum and Charlotte Leonhardsen- Social Prescribing Lead at NHS Greater Manchester who will explore the commonalities in our work and opportunities to collaborate over the coming years.

This event is part of Japan Week (4-9 September 2025)

Sawako INANIWA

Senior Curator of Learning at National Centre for Art Research, National Museum of Art.

With over 25 years' experience as a museum curator, she holds a Master's degree in Museum Studies from UCL. She previously served as Curator and Head of Learning at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, pioneering community-based initiatives including the Tobira Project and Creative Ageing Zuttobi. https://www.zuttobi.com/ [zuttobi.com]She currently leads the programme development of the ART-based Platform for Co-creation, a Cultural Prescribing research initiative with Tokyo University of the Arts, and contributed to 'New Museum Practice in Asia' (2018).

Takashi KIRIYAMA

Professor, Tokyo University of the Arts

Dean, Graduate School of Film and New Media

He received his Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1991. His research focuses on the development of interactive media. As part of the collaborative project “Arts-Based Communication Platform for Co-creation to Build a Convivial Society,” he leads initiatives that support art-based communication through the use of technology.

Charlotte Leonhardsen

Programme Manager within the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership

Charlotte leads on Social Prescribing and workforce development as part of the Person-Centred and Community Approaches team under the Population Health directorate, helping to shape healthier, more connected communities.

She is a dedicated professional with a career spanning healthcare, fitness, and Social Prescribing. Originally from Denmark and now based in the UK, Charlotte is a proud mother of three and a trained nurse by background.

With six years in the fitness industry, she specialised in supporting individuals with long-term health conditions, promoting physical well-being and empowerment. Over the past eight years, Charlotte has become a passionate advocate and leader in social prescribing, fostering innovative approaches to improve community health and well-being.

Julie McCarthy

Julie is Strategic Lead for Creative Health at Greater Manchester Integrated Care (NHS GM) and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, where she has leads on the GM’s Creative Health Strategy (published November 2022).

She is now progressing plans for Greater Manchester to become the world’s first Creative Health City Region with culture and creativity embedded across health and social care.

Dr Hannah Waterson

Hannah is a research associate in knowledge mobilisation at the University of Manchester, focusing on how creative health can be embedded across the Greater Manchester health and social care ecosystem. Before this she was the Research and Policy Manager at the National Centre for Creative Health.

Accessibility

We want to make the event a positive experience for all participants. If you have particular access needs, please let us know in advance by providing details of any accessibility needs when registering for your ticket or by emailing us at creative@manchester.ac.uk.

About Creative Manchester

Creative Manchester is an interdisciplinary research platform based at The University of Manchester. The platform champions research in creativity and creative practice, bringing together research communities with external stakeholders to explore new research areas and address strategic opportunities. Please visit the website for more information: Creative Manchester.

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