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Arts & Health

It has been proven that the arts have a key role to play in delivering an improved patient environment. The arts can create healthcare environments that are welcoming, reassuring, stimulating and personal and that reflect the needs and values of the local community. Arts in health projects are being seen as effective and value for money means of creating impact and ensuring appropriateness.

The use of the arts in healthcare has been proven to:

1. Deliver an improved environment
2. Promote wellbeing and reduce stress
3. Reduce lengths of stay
4. Deliver increased service user, carer and staff satisfaction
5. Reduce complaints and vandalism
6. Reduce the use of medication
7. Promote greater care for the environment and reduce maintenance costs
8. Create improved working conditions and staff retention
9. Increase positive public awareness of issues around health and mental health

The national context

Review of Arts and Health Working Group, Department of Health, 2007
In 2007, the Department of Health carried out a review of arts and health activity throughout the UK to assess its importance and investigate the practical ways the Department of Health could encourage and develop best practice guidelines. 

The Department of Health and Arts Council England published a joint prospectus for arts and health, which stemmed from the recommendations of the Review of Arts and Health Working Group. 

In 2007, Arts Council England published its first comprehensive, national arts and health framework or strategy.  Its 2 aims are:

1. To integrate the arts into mainstream health strategy and policy making, in order to make the case for a role for the arts in healthcare provision across the whole country and for a wider remit for the arts in terms of healthy living and wellbeing
2. To increase, and more effectively deploy, resources for arts and health initiatives, through funding, quality assurance of artists’ work and advocacy.

It also includes the following five priorities for arts projects and partnerships in health settings:

1. Healthy communities
2. Built environment
3. Children and young people
4. Workforce development
5. Advocacy and resource development

Arts & health research

There is a growing body of evidence that proves the value and impact of the environment and the arts on healing.  If you would like to find out about how the arts can effect wellbeing download Fresh Arts - Making the case for the Arts in healthcare settings PDF.