To enhance community and connection, Perspectives is a new section of Newsbriefing dedicated to sharing the specialist knowledge and viewpoints of BAAT members with a unique understanding of specific areas of the art therapy profession. In this issue, Perspectives shares insight into the roles, strengths and current state of art therapy in Scotland with BAAT Council Scotland representatives:
 | Bridget Grant Representative for Private Practice and Acting Chair |
 | Mary Anne Ibe Representative for Race and Culture |
 | Catriona MacInnes Acting Representative for Children and Young People |
What was your route to becoming a member of BAAT Council Scotland?
BG: I began as Regional Coordinator for Region 16 and attended BAAT Scotland meetings as part of this role. When I stopped being the Regional Coordinator, I put myself forward as a Representative for Private Practice and was voted in at the following AGM. I am in my third year in this role and will be due to leave it at the next AGM. At the last AGM, I offered to take on the role of Acting Chair for an interim year to hold the Council in the absence of anyone else stepping forward. So I have not been voted in to this role, but I hope to pass it to someone else at the next AGM.
CM: I was elected at the BAAT Scotland AGM in 2018.
MAI: I was asked to be a representative for race and culture following the social and political unrest during lockdown 2020.
What does your role with BAAT Scotland involve?
BG: BAAT Scotland's mission statement is – ‘BAAT Scotland cultivates, supports and promotes meaningful connections and creative growth for the Scottish Art Therapy profession.’
This is a voluntary role and the amount of time and energy BAAT Scotland representatives give varies. A minimum requirement is to attend the meetings, of which there are around four a year, and to help with the AGM. Meetings include identifying ways to fulfil the aims of the mission statement and to support the Scottish membership. One way we are doing this is by attempting to establish effective two-way communication routes with the membership, inviting people to get in touch with us and sending regular BAAT Scotland bulletins. In addition, representatives are available to engage with queries from members which relate to the area they represent. I view the role of Acting Chair as an organising and coordinating one for BAAT Scotland Council.
CM: Attending BAAT Scotland meetings, raising awareness of art therapy with CYP in Scotland, representing members in Scotland and offering support to members in Scotland in relation to Art Therapy with CYP. In this role, I set up the SIG in Scotland for Art Therapy with CYP, and we have bi-monthly Zoom meetings to discuss research interests and peer support. We are now in a position to be able to organise a face-to-face one-day seminar with presentations by two established art therapists working in Scotland. I have also spent a lot of time involved in AHP meetings online and have done some strategic work to support Art Therapists working in education in Scotland. I've also taken part in the UK-wide Education SIG and supported the facilitation of regular Zoom groups by Jude Smit and the other SIG coordinators for CYPs.
MAI: I collaborate with fellow BAAT Scottish and UK Council members regarding important issues relevant to the Scottish membership quarterly throughout the year. We have managed to maintain this throughout lockdown as communication is key to establishing progress between the Scottish membership and BAAT Central. My role for BAAT Scotland is to support members with accessing resources, building meaningful connections within the membership and developing resources relevant to Scottish art therapy clients and practice.
What drives you to volunteer in this capacity?
BG: I am passionate about the benefits of art therapy and committed to the profession. Being an Art Therapist can sometimes be a bit of a struggle, and it is easy to feel isolated or despondent about job opportunities. Anything that helps to support art therapists and promote the work feels important. It is also a fantastic way to develop my own professional practice, meeting and working with other art therapists from across the UK and engaging with professional issues.
CM: In 2018, I had moved from working in a specialist NHS CAMHS team to work in an early intervention setting and private practice and wanted to grow and develop professionally along with other art therapists in a way that I had not been able to do while working full-time and bringing up children as a single parent. I have a lot of experience in trauma with adults and children since qualifying in 1997 and feel I have a lot to offer. I worked in CAMHS as the Scottish Government set up the GIRFEC framework and had done a lot of teaching and training for other professionals such as SWs, Police, Legal System, Education as well for the NHS on Trauma, and wanted to continue to use these skills and the knowledge and experience gained to support and grow the profession if possible in Scotland. I see a lot that could be done to make this happen.
MAI: It's important for me to be involved in the Scotland BAAT membership. I am interested in engaging with people's art therapy perspectives and pushing forward the Scotland experience of training, practice and research in the context of race and culture, which is always at the front of the social and political agenda for clients and art therapists. It has been such an insightful personal learning experience being a Council member and working behind the scenes of BAAT Scotland. It has given me the confidence and encouragement to be involved in shaping the future of our profession and learning more about policies and procedures at a strategic level. I have enjoyed showcasing my experience and practice working with clients and standing in support of our membership in challenging times. There is always something new to learn and develop in this kind of leadership role, and I'm looking forward to contributing further.
Why do you feel this work is important?
BG: I think it is important that BAAT Scotland exists to represent the members and work in Scotland. Scotland is a devolved nation with its own government and legislation regarding, for example, mental health and children and young people.
CM: There are many really good art therapists around who could offer a great therapeutic service which is much needed in our populations and the number of art therapy posts is very small. I think one of the best ways to change that is to gather and work together to create a profession that feels robust and visible to ourselves and others. I am a great believer in collective leadership and bottom-up approaches with good open discussion and debate and I believe the Scottish Government’s strategy on mental health, trauma and so on is supportive of our work. It is a moment in time where we can hopefully integrate ourselves more into the systems and organisations we have in Scotland. Also, I feel the membership needs a Scottish body that understands our legal systems, education system, culture and demographic and to feel that the support is accessible and relevant to them.
MAI: It's important that the experience of Scottish art therapy is understood, documented and celebrated from all perspectives to inspire, inform and educate.
What do you consider the top strengths of BAAT Scotland?
BG
- BAAT Scotland promotes and supports Art Therapy in a grassroots way, drawing on a lived, localised understanding of the culture, politics, and experience
- The BAAT Scotland Council are a supportive, progressive and dedicated team
- The system of having representatives from different areas of practice enriches BAAT UK as a whole.
CM
- Creating a steady representative group
- Exploring the issues pertinent to Scotland
- Being responsive to members.
MAI
- Scotland represents a wonderfully diverse membership of Art Therapists providing really meaningful, inspiring client work and practices.
- We need to showcase more of these strengths to inform and encourage new trainees and the newly qualified to step forward and be part of the narrative.
What would you like to tell the BAAT community about art therapy current affairs in Scotland?
BG: I think that Art Therapy is alive and well in Scotland! We had a really well-attended online AGM in February, with a wonderful range of Art Therapists from different areas, fields of practice, levels of experience and age ranges. There is some great research happening and jobs are appearing from both the third sector and the NHS. I think a real growth area is in private practice. I think there is a greater understanding and appreciation of Art Therapy from the public who are actively seeking it out as a therapy of choice. I know Art Therapists working in private practice who are having to turn away referrals. Also, I think the huge learning we all underwent regarding online work and recognising it as an effective approach in its own right is creating rich possibilities with great potential to expand and even deepen the practice of Art Therapy.
CM: There are more art therapists working in Scotland than ever before. There is greatly increased public knowledge about art therapy. There are areas of growth in certain NHS Boards and several research projects going on that I know of across Scotland.
MAI: We are in a really interesting and ever-evolving climate of change for client practice and research. We are in a unique position to be more involved with our membership through accessible avenues and to be open to sharing our lived experiences in these uncertain times of highlighted racial injustices and discrimination. Currently, our use of technology to remain connected to fellow art therapists in our membership in Scotland and the UK has been more accessible and financially viable for training, AGMs, general networking and practice development groups. In the broader scope, connecting internationally with art therapists across the world brings more open discussion of connecting, learning and inviting and exploring practice from various cultural backgrounds. That has been my learning this past year; connecting with QMU trainees to explore the cultural identity of the art therapists and clients in relation to personal growth and practice. Social media has been a helpful way of staying involved with the membership and other art therapists and cultural groups for peer support and practice development.
To get in touch or involved with BAAT Council Scotland, please email:
Bridget Grant, Acting Chair, BAAT Scotland, scotlandchair@baatcrs.org
Catriona MacInnes, BAAT Scotland Representative for Children and Young People, scotlandchildrensrep@baatcrs.org
Mary Anne Ibe, BAAT Scotland Representative for Race and Culture, BAATscotraceandculturerep@gmail.com.
If you have suggestions for future segments of Perspectives, please get in touch on Newsbriefing@baat.org
Copyright (c) The British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)
This article is published in BAAT Newsbriefing Summer 2022 and may not be distributed or published without the consent of BAAT
