Flourish Magazine, the magazine by and for people living with and beyond cancer, is releasing its third issue on Monday 18 September on the theme of ‘Movement’, featuring incredible art, embroidery, sculpture, photography, creative writing and more
The free print and digital magazine, founded last year by creative health charity Artlift and the UK’s integrative cancer care charity Yes to Life, aims to explore the benefits of an integrative and creative approach to living with cancer.
Each edition centres around a theme and combines a range of resources, expert information and interview features with creative submissions by those living with and beyond cancer, received through an open call. Flourish offers a print magazine, alongside digital content that includes music, film, blog posts and more – released weekly on the Artlift and Yes to Life blogs.
‘Living with and beyond cancer’ can mean those going through cancer themselves, or through a loved one. The open call for submissions for their next issue, around the theme of ‘Balance’, is now live – with the deadline to submit Wednesday 3 January 2024, 10pm.
The magazine is created with the support of a steering group that includes people living with cancer and partners Macmillan, Macmillan Next Steps and Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust. Flourish has so far been supported by Macmillan and National Lottery funding, and has recently also secured Arts Council England funding for future issues, expanding its reach from a small print run of 150 around Gloucestershire to a circulation of 2000 per issue across the South West.
Editor-in-Chief Natalie Beech said:
“Every issue of Flourish astounds me; the creativity of people who have experienced cancer and their ability to turn a difficult experience into something beautiful is such an honour to witness. Our Movement issue explores the theme in all kinds of forms, from how moving our bodies can support us, to being part of a movement, moving through grief, being moved by nature or music – it’s truly an inspiring and evocative read.
“I’m delighted that we can continue to offer the magazine for free in print and online through funding from Macmillan and Arts Council England and bring it to new readers.”
Contributor Karin Ayres said:
“I wanted to contribute to Flourish Magazine, as I think it’s imperative to share our stories for others to read as an informative, supportive, helpful, non-judgemental, learning tool. Hopefully reading similar ‘living with cancer’ experiences will inspire others and also let them know that they’re not alone.
“I was so thrilled and excited to have my blog, poem and photo in the first edition of Flourish Magazine. They kindly sent me a paper copy to keep, which I treasure. To see and read my work in print made me feel really proud and quite emotional.”
You can find Flourish Magazine in hospitals, hospices, cancer care charities and community centres across the South West.
Read Flourish Magazine and see how to submit to the next issue here: https://artlift.org/artlift-programmes/flourish/flourish-magazine/
About Artlift
artlift.org
Artlift is a Gloucestershire based specialist creative health charity co-producing projects and courses for people living with mental health challenges, long-term chronic pain and/or who are living with or moving on from cancer.
Artlift also provides Workplace Wellbeing packages for NHS and corporate sector teams, as well as consultancy, residencies and training for the wider Creative Heatlh sector.
Twitter @ArtliftB
Instagram @ArtsOnPrescription
Facebook @ArtstoMakeYouFeelBetter
About Yes to Life
yestolife.org.uk
Yes to Life is the UK’s integrative cancer care charity, which empowers people with cancer to make informed decisions about their care options. For well over a decade, we have provided evidence-based information to those in need.
Twitter @YesToLife
Instagram @yestolifecharity
Facebook @YestoLifeCharity
