The Abundance Symposium

Join us at Chelsea College of Arts for a full‑day symposium exploring how creative, nature‑based and community‑led approaches can support neighbourhood health systems, strengthen prevention, and address widening health inequalities.

Bringing together researchers, policymakers, professionals, and leaders from across the health, cultural and VCSE sectors, the Abundance Symposium will share emerging evidence and practice from the Abundance Project and its partners, facilitate cross‑sector exchange, and examine how these approaches can play a central role in improving mental health and reducing health inequalities among underserved communities.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided throughout the day. The symposium will begin with an optional wellbeing walk*, followed by a programme of keynote talks, panel discussions and creative workshops. The day will conclude with an informal drinks reception, offering attendees the opportunity to continue conversations and build connections across sectors.

*For more information and to sign up for the pre-symposium walkshop around Millbank, please visit our event page here.

Three roundtable discussions will explore the following themes:

1. The role of Creative and Nature-based Health in Neighbourhood health systems
2. The role of lived experience and participatory approaches in research, policy, and decision making
3. Mobilising culture and green community assets: enhancing access and participation for underserved communities

Keynote Speakers:

• Professor Helen Chatterjee, University College London, Director of the UKRI-funded Mobilising community assets to tackle health inequalities Program
• Clare Lovett, Principal Project Development Officer - Creative Health and Wellbeing Culture, Great London Authority.

Other Contributors:

• Dr Jaideep Gupte, Director of Research, Strategy, Innovation Arts and Humanities, Arts and Humanities Research Council
• Dr Leonora Weil, Deputy Director NHS Prevention and System Strengthening
• Flora Faith-Kelly, Creative Health Programme Manager for South East London Integrated Care Board
• Dr Farzad Entikabi, Executive Director, Camden Health Evolution
• Fiona Tarn, Head of Libraries, London Borough of Camden
• Dan Hopewell, Director of Knowledge and Innovation, Bromley by Bow Centre
• Victoria Hume, Director of the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance
• Anna Woolf, Chief Executive Officer, London Arts and Health
• Members of the Abundance Project Team

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The Abundance Project Team:

Principal Investigator: Professor Maria Chatzichristodoulou (University of the Arts London)

Co-Principal Investigator: Professor Tushna Vandrevala (Kingston University)

Scott Furlong, Programme Director, Cultural Strategy and Visitor Experience, (Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames)

Academic Co-Investigators: Dr Kerry Brown (Kingston University), Dr Peter Garside (Kingston University), and Dr Chris Tang (King's College London)

Community Co-Investigators:

Reach Foundation: Anna Bosher and Clare McKenzie

Connect: North Korea: Catherine Dawkins, Michael Glendinning, and Seonyeong Oh

Asian Resource Centre of Croydon: Mamun Khan and Ima Miah

Kingston Voluntary Action: Eneida Capaldi, Sanja Djeric Kane, and Suniya Qureshi

Refugee Action Kingston: Louise Bloom and Alistair Kingsley

Research Fellows: Richard Boulton (Kingston University), Francesca Taylor (Kingston University), and Dr Silke Zschomler (University of the Arts London)

Data Support Coordinator: Jonah Rudlin

Illustrations by Palak Garg.