Community arts practice with Artlink Edinburgh & the Lothians
2014 – 2023
Activities Coordinator, NHS Royal Edinburgh Hospital
Research
Postgraduate study in Flamencology: flamenco, wellbeing and mental health
Book a performance, a session, or both.
Not every visit has to be a workshop. Many organisations simply want live music; others want everyone taking part.
01
Live performance
Singing and guitar for patients, residents, families and staff. A relaxed concert of Spanish, flamenco, Latin, Scottish, English and world music, with no participation required.
Wards & lounges
Events
Celebrations
02
Participatory session
Interactive music and arts where everyone can take part: singing together, rhythm, movement and creative activities, at each person’s pace.
Groups
Workshops
Programmes
What I offer
Music and creativity for every group.
Activities can be booked on their own or combined into a session or a programme.
01
Live singing & guitar
Performances for healthcare, care and community environments, acoustic or amplified.
02
Participatory music sessions
Group singing, familiar songs and shared music-making, at each person’s pace.
03
Rhythm & body percussion
Palmas, body percussion and simple percussion that build interaction and focus.
04
Flamenco, Spanish music & movement
An introduction to flamenco and Spanish music, with dance, movement and rhythm.
05
Creative arts & exploration
Drawing, painting, colour and visual activities that invite imagination and self-expression.
06
Art, culture & conversation
Accessible talks on art history, artists and cultural traditions, told through images.
07
Educational & community workshops
Sessions for schools, additional support needs and community groups.
Where I work
From hospital wards to classrooms.
Healthcare & mental health
Hospitals, wards, mental-health services and dementia care.
Care homes
Care homes, day services and residents’ events.
Education & ASN
Schools, children and young people, additional support needs.
Community
Community centres, programmes and organisations.
Adaptable
Shaped around the people in the room.
Every session is planned with staff beforehand and adjusted on the day, so people can join in, listen, or simply enjoy being there.
Ages
Children, adults and older people.
Abilities
Adapted for dementia, additional support needs and mental-health settings.
Group size
One to one, small groups or a full room.
Space
Wards, lounges, classrooms, halls or outdoors. Acoustic or amplified.
Format
A one-off visit, a regular programme, or a performance followed by a session.
Experience
Twenty years of community practice.
2005
Artlink Edinburgh & the Lothians
Music and participatory activities in hospitals, care homes and community environments.
2014 – 2023
NHS Royal Edinburgh Hospital
Activities Coordinator in a mental-health environment, from December 2014 to May 2023.
2020
Studies in Flamencology, ESMUC
Postgraduate research connecting flamenco, wellbeing and mental health.
Today
Independent practice
Performances and sessions across Scotland for health, care, education and community partners.
“Music does not always need a stage. It can also create participation, communication, memory, movement and shared experience.”
— Danielo Olivera
Session formats
Four ways to start.
Format 01
Live Music Session
A varied repertoire of well-known English, Spanish, Scottish and world songs, performed live.
Format 02
Interactive Music Session
The same repertoire, with singing together, rhythm and interaction built in.
Format 03
Flamenco & Spanish Music Experience
A flamenco programme with short explanations, plus an optional workshop where everyone learns the rhythms.
Format 04
English, Scottish & World Music
Familiar songs from Scotland, the UK and around the world, ideal for singing along and reminiscence.
How to enquire
01
Tell me about your setting
Who the group is, the space, and what you hope people get from it.
02
We shape it together
Format, length, frequency and any adaptations, agreed with your staff.
03
Danielo arrives ready
With instruments and his own equipment, set up and ready to start.
Planning something for your residents, patients or pupils? Let’s talk.
Tell me about your setting and the people taking part, and we will shape the session together.