Keynote panel discussion: Responding to War Trauma through Artistic Practices

As part of the Summer School program on Trauma-Informed Art Practices, we held a discussion titled “Responding to War Trauma Through Artistic Practices.” We explored the impact of individual and transgenerational trauma on people, various ways to address trauma, and approaches to working with it. We also shared our experiences and expectations from the School. The guest speakers included Veronika Sklyarova, Christopher Bailey, Henry Redwood, and Darren Abrahams.

Veronika Sklyarova is a cultural manager, theater producer, and art curator. She is the director of the NGO “Art Dot,” the leader and founder of the Art Therapy Force project, and the program director of the Parade-fest festival.

Christopher Bailey is the Head of the Arts and Health Department at the World Health Organization, the founder of the Healing Arts Initiative, which researches the impact of art on health and brings together scientists from around the world. He is also the co-founder of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab.

Henry Redwood is a lecturer at the Department of War Studies at King’s College London and the author of numerous publications, including the monograph “The Archival Politics of International Courts.” As a specialist in trauma-informed art, he has collaborated with Opera Circus, BlkBrd Collective, Mark Neville, and Vladimir Miladinović.

Darren Abrahams is an opera singer and trauma therapy specialist who works as a facilitator and project leader in personal, cultural, and community development. Darren is a coach and consultant for the “Musicians Without Borders” project, where he trains musicians to use music for peacebuilding. He is also the founder of “The Human Hive,” an organization that prepares practitioners in the field of trauma, and the co-founder of the “One World Orchestra,” which explores the concept of “home” through music.

MIGHT BE INTERESTING:

Angela Kennedy’s lecture on Trauma-Informed Approaches in Theory and Practice

In this lecture, Angela Kennedy explains the meaning of the term trauma-informed in both theory and practice. She emphasizes the importance of this systemic approach, which involves recognizing signs of trauma, understanding its impact on individuals, knowing how to respond appropriately, and avoiding re-traumatization.

Identity, Memory, Art, Activism, and Emancipation

In this lecture, Veronika Sklyarova and Henry Redwood discussed artistic projects that are connected to political art in various ways. They explored historical memory, transgenerational trauma, and processes of (re)traumatization, demonstrating how these themes can be addressed through art.

Henry Redwood’s lecture on Art as Political Imaginary

In this lecture, Henry Redwood discussed the role of art in political imagination and approaches to representing war. He explained how the aestheticization of politics and collaboration with artists can create opportunities to rethink the conditions under which communities traumatized by war are formed.

Angela Kennedy’s lecture on Evaluation and evidence for Trauma Informed Approaches

In this lecture, Angela Kennedy discussed the evidence base for the trauma-informed approach, the models and types of evaluation, and the importance of learning and the context in which the approach is applied.