What would you write in a letter to your body?

If you could write a letter to your body, what would you say? Would you thank it, be strict with it, encourage it or celebrate it? Maybe you want to ask it something, or sing its praises?

We’re encouraging people to consider these questions as part of a new arts and health initiative in Bridgend County Borough. The ’Letter to my body’ project aims to get people talking about issues such as body image, personal body confidence and how people generally feel about their bodies.

The project is being led by artist Rabab Ghazoul, arts organisation Addo and social enterprise Halo Leisure Ltd, with support from the Arts Council of Wales and Bridgend County Borough Council.

Talking about the project, Rabab said

We’re hoping everyone will want to get involved in writing a ‘Letter to my body’. It’s the last phase in a project that’s looking at the relationship between arts and health in Bridgend County Borough, and could have some wonderful knock on effects for great cultural projects that can happen in future in the area.

Letters can be handed in at local leisure centres and various other establishments such as The Zone, Hatters Tea Room and Bauhaus in Bridgend town centre. Letters can also be submitted using this online form.

There will be opportunities to discuss the project and share experiences at a series of free ‘Letter to my body’ sessions, with the first one taking place at Carnegie House in Bridgend on Thursday 12 February from 10.30am.

Bridgend Library will hold an event on Wednesday 25 February from 6pm to 7.30pm, where feelings surrounding body image will be discussed and related reading suggestions will be available for loan or request.

The project will then conclude with a final session at Carnegie House on Friday 13 March, where all of the letters that have been collected will be displayed anonymously at an evening of cultural activities which will include spoken word, music and food.

Everyone who submits a letter will be entered into a prize draw, with the prizes on offer including a month’s free Halo gym membership and other body-related goodies.

Councillor Lyn Morgan, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, said

It’s interesting that this project combines art and health to provide an innovative way of encouraging people to express themselves.  The project hopes to raise awareness of issues that people may have with self-esteem, and hopefully by sharing these feelings and talking about them people will realise that they are not alone in having issues with their body.

To find out more about the project please contact Sarah Pace on 07715 102517 or email sarah@addocreative.com.