Bloom
Sophia Arentz-Graham
Manchester Metropolitan University
Mental health is a growing global issue, influenced by stress. Resilience is the ability to adapt to and recover from stress. Research shows that childhood is a critical stage for building resilience and that participation in the arts supports mental wellbeing, emotional regulation and stress reduction. Bloom is an inclusive creative hub, accessed by multiple schools and users, incorporating dance and art studios, wellbeing huts and performance/communal areas, surrounded by natural materials, light and nature. In developmental psychology, flowers symbolise levels of sensitivity in children. Exploring this concept, Bloom is a metaphorical greenhouse, helping children establish roots, grow and blossom in a supportive, creative environment.