History

The link between creativity and wellbeing is long established. Hippocrates wrote “art is long, life is short”. The Ancient Greeks pursued the notion of wellbeing stemming from a well lived life and the arts and creativity were essential elements in that. The founding principle of the World

Health Organisation is that “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity … the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being”.  The arts can contribute to our complete wellbeing.

Policy

In 2007, the Department of Health published a prospectus looking at the role the arts can play in health.  Click here to download or view the prospectus, and the review on which it was based. 

Its principle findings were that:

• arts and health are, and should be firmly recognised as being, integral to health, healthcare provision and healthcare environments, including supporting staff
• arts and health initiatives are delivering real and measurable benefits across a wide range of priority areas for health, and can enable the Department and NHS to contribute to key wider Government initiatives
• there is a wealth of good practice and a substantial evidence base
• the Department of Health has an important leadership role to play in creating an environment in which arts and health can prosper by promoting, developing and supporting arts and health
• the Department should make a clear statement on the value of arts and health, build partnerships and publish a Prospectus for arts in health in collaboration with other key contributors.

The prospectus concluded:

 “Arts Council England, the Department of Health and many leading healthcare experts firmly believe that the arts have an important part to play in improving the health and wellbeing of people in many ways,”

At the end of 2008, The Department of Health established a new working group to look at the role the arts can play in health. This stemmed from the (then) Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson who, in a speech in September 2008, declared that “hospitals and other care settings that pay close attention to the overall physical environment for patients achieve real improvements in the health of patients… Access and participation in the arts are an essential part of our everyday wellbeing and quality of life.” His speech followed a debate in the House of Lords, earlier that year looking at the role of the arts in health. This new working group is currently “considering how arts and health can be included more regularly in [the Department of Health’s] policies, and whether systems and incentives should be adapted to reflect the contribution of arts and health.”

Where next

Does it really work?  Take a look at the evidence and be inspired by our case studies.

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