Welcome

Lime - artist - Suki Chan Radcliffe Primary Health Care Centre

Arts @ Callington Road. Image by Paul Highnam’

Welcome to the new national resource for creativity and health.

It is designed to act as a signpost to help you to find individuals and organisations which are using the arts to influence health, the research and guidelines which support this work and other sources of information about all aspects of arts, creativity and wellbeing.

What is Arts in Health?

Man laughing while seated for treatment, with similar portraits on wall.

MMU - workshop organisers and participants

There is now an overwhelming body of evidence demonstrating that participation in the arts and access to a range of arts opportunities can dramatically improve health outcomes and increase wellbeing. By supplementing medicine and care, the arts can improve the health of people who experience mental or physical health problems. Engaging in the arts can promote prevention of disease and build wellbeing.

Resources

The arts have been linked to wellbeing for thousands of years. The Ancient Greeks and Chinese linked health to creativity and the arts and for hundreds of years, artists have been involved in exploring health and creating work in and for healthcare environments.

Case Study

Lead Image:

The East Kent ‘Singing for Health’ Network

Since September 2009, this innovative community music project has involved over 100 people with a history of serious and enduring mental health issues in regular singing activity to promote wellbeing and health.

Find out more

Not sure what its all about? Check out the What is arts in health? section and be inspired by some of the Case Studies.

Does it really work? Take a look at the evidence.

Want to talk to someone? Try the Directory section or Contacts to find an individual or an organisation who can help!

Get Involved