Bringing People Together Through Arts, Care and Compassion 

In November 2024, Britten Pears Arts hosted Spark! The Role of the Arts in Building Compassionate Communities, bringing together artists, musicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, community leaders and cultural organisations to explore how the arts can support experiences of grief, loss, caregiving, ageing and end-of-life care.

The event formed part of Britten Pears Arts’ year-long focus on Compassionate Communities, developed in partnership with St Elizabeth Hospice. Throughout the year, the organisation explored how music, creativity, heritage, place and community participation could help people navigate some of life’s most challenging and often overlooked experiences.  

Why Compassionate Communities? 

The Compassionate Communities movement recognises that experiences such as serious illness, bereavement, ageing, caregiving and loss affect everyone, yet are often difficult to discuss openly. The event examined how arts and culture can help break down this silence by creating spaces for reflection, connection and understanding.

Through presentations, performances and discussions, participants considered the unique role that music, theatre, film and visual arts can play in helping individuals and communities process grief, express emotion and build meaningful connections.  

Highlights from the Day

The programme featured a diverse range of speakers and artists who shared research, creative practice and lived experience.

Contributors included:

• Judi Newman, Chief Executive of St Elizabeth Hospice
• Dr Guy Peryer, Senior Research Fellow, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East of England
• George Fu, award-winning international pianist
• Matilda Hay, documentary filmmaker and photographer
• Emily Levy, singer, composer and performer
• Mella Faye, writer and theatre director
• Off The Twig Theatre Company
• Phillipa Anders and Dr Hazel Harrison, presenting their developing project Music to Die For
• Emily Richardson, filmmaker, who premiered her new film exploring Benjamin Britten’s final years.

The event encouraged active participation, with attendees joining discussion groups, sharing ideas and exploring how creative practice can contribute to more compassionate approaches to health, wellbeing and end-of-life experiences.

A Growing Programme of Compassionate Communities Activity 

The Spark event built on a wider programme of activity developed by Britten Pears Arts and St Elizabeth Hospice throughout 2024. Initiatives included bereavement walks at Snape Maltings, bereavement cafés at The Red House, gardening sessions for people experiencing loss, artist residencies and musical projects exploring grief, remembrance and renewal.  

These activities demonstrated how arts organisations can play a valuable role alongside health and community partners, creating welcoming spaces where people feel supported, heard and connected. 

Looking Back 

The event highlighted the growing recognition that compassion is not solely the responsibility of healthcare services, but something that can be fostered across entire communities. By bringing together artists, researchers, practitioners and community members, the day created opportunities for shared learning and inspired new conversations about the role of arts and culture in supporting people through grief, loss and life’s transitions.