Events and conferences

(15-30 minutes)

Start things off with a bang, or beat the after lunch slump!

Art Beat helps your delegates find their groove again by offering a unique, joyful, co-operative activity to restore group focus. Through drumming (or even 'Boomwhackers' - brightly coloured musical tubes especially suited to large numbers and quick set-ups), delegates are rapidly engaged in creating their own rhythmic music in an event that will be remembered for a long time!

As well as bringing your group to an alert, enthusiastic and active focus for what's next, the activity can also be used to deliver or reinforce the message of the conference – particularly appropriate themes include diversity, teamwork, change and challenge, and valuing the contribution of the individual to the whole.

(30 minutes to 2 hours)

These more focused sessions are best suited to smaller numbers - offering the most chances for participants to actively contribute and interact with each other. Again, these can reinforce the themes of the event, or be used as a tool to bring participants together, to break the ice, examine teamwork, or take a focused look at communication styles. Alternatively, an 'instant band' made up of delegates can be formed and ready to play for a conference break or finale!

(15-20 minutes at intervals throughout the day)

Often requested for public events, these short workshops offer participants the chance to have a go at drumming, in a way that is completely accessible to all ages and levels of ability. The sound of enthusiastic drumming reverberates around the site and beyond, offering an added bonus of drawing other peoples' attention to the event!

Depending on location and requirements, musical support can also be offered by members of 'The Buddy Beat' - a community drumming group established to aid the recovery journeys of mental health service users.

Paths for All: energiser, workshop, and instant band for national networking conference

Bipolar Scotland: energisers and workshops for 2 national conferences

Glasgow City Council: 'Drop in and Drum' for Wild in the City events

Princess Royal Trust for Carers: workshops for carers wellbeing day

Lothian Recovery Network: conference energiser

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde: conference energisers for Renfrewshire Primary Care Trust, and Community Mental Health Team awaydays.

Creating Capacity: Socially inclusive occupational therapy. National conference. Energiser and workshop.

Strathclyde University: series of staff wellbeing workshops.

South Lanarkshire Children's Services: team-building workshop for staff development day.

St. Mary's RC primary school, Clapham. Workshop examining creativity for staff conference.

Scottish Interfaith Council. Workshops exploring unity in diversity for several national events.

Methodist Church in Scotland: workshop for national clergy conference.