Working with Arnolfini: Building Trauma-Informed Arts Spaces
Last year, Trauma Foundation South West was invited to collaborate with Arnolfini, Bristol’s International Centre for Contemporary Arts, as they deepened their commitment to welcoming more diverse communities. With a growing programme of work with minoritised communities - and especially with refugees - Arnolfini wanted to ensure their spaces were safe, inclusive, and truly accessible.
We were delighted to deliver a bespoke training and facilitated group session for their staff, exploring how to support people who have experienced trauma when engaging with creative and cultural spaces.
Keiko Higashi, Head of Engagement at Arnolfini, reflected:
“Trauma Foundation South West was so responsive in creating a bespoke session for our staff, sensitively incorporating the particular needs of our organisation and managing to hold difficult subject matters in a safe and relaxed approach. Throughout the session there was plenty of time to have meaningful discussions as well as gaining practical advice which could be directly applied to real situations that our staff encounter. We would definitely reach out to TFSW for future training.”
Why this matters
Arts and cultural institutions are increasingly recognising the importance of being trauma-informed. For people who have experienced displacement, loss, or violence, accessing cultural spaces can be both a source of healing and a site of challenge. Staff who understand trauma are better equipped to create environments where every voice feels heard and every person can participate fully.
At TFSW, our training covers topics such as:
An introduction to working with trauma
Trauma-informed organisations
Working with forcibly displaced people and suicide
Preventing vicarious trauma
Working effectively with interpreters
Across the past year, 600 professionals from 22 organisations participated in our training programme either online or through an in-person bespoke session. Our training is delivered by Dr Katherine Cox and is consistently rated highly- 4.7 out of 5 on average - and feedback shows it gives people both confidence and practical tools:
“Excellent material presented very clearly with lots of important information and vital questions to take away.” – Training participant
An invitation to the sector
The arts, heritage, health, education, and community sectors all have a role to play in creating spaces where people from all backgrounds can belong. As institutions across the UK seek to welcome more diverse communities, trauma-informed practice is vital.
We are proud of our work with Arnolfini and are keen to support other organisations on a similar journey. Whether you’re an arts centre, museum, university, or frontline service, investing in trauma training is an investment in skills that transform services and lives.
Find out more about our training programmes here
