Below we share highlights from the vast body of existing research that evidences the efficacy of the arts and humanities as an intervention in health, alongside insights into current global practices in this field.
Our Audiences
By bringing evidence from research and current practice together here, we hope to offer a collection of data that is useful to:
 |
Creative Practitionerswho are often working in isolation and welcome the opportunity to share practices, challenges, rewards and learning |
 |
Health Practitionerskeen to understand the nature and benefits of arts in health practices and encourage their widespread take-up |
 |
Commissioners and Care Providersin urgent need of evidence to justify allocation of resources to support arts in health initiatives |
SHARED Workshops
7 February 2023 | Workshop 1 ALIGNMENT
Our first workshop focussed on international arts in health initiatives that build on existing community capabilities. We heard from Nawa Culture and Arts Association in the Gaza Strip, Mishwar in North Lebanon and UNESCO RILA in Glasgow.
21 February 2023 | Workshop 2 INCLUSION
In our second workshop we explored arts and health models which reach marginalised or at-risk populations. We heard about the COSTAR project in Uganda, Wellbeing of the Woods in Glasgow and the Centre for Contemplative Studies in USA.
7 March 2023 | Workshop 3 PARTNERSHIPS
At our third workshop we heard about experiences of establishing successful collaborations between arts activity and health provision. We learned about the Cinema, Memory and Wellbeing Toolkit, the work of Dovetale Press and we heard from experienced music and health practitioner, Georgina Aasgaard.
Existing Research and Current Practice
Report | Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing
The UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing set-up in 2014 aims to improve awareness of the benefits that the arts can bring to health and wellbeing.
Journal Article | Counterflows for Mental Well-being: What High-Income Countries Can Learn from Low and Middle-income Countries
Book Series | Arts for Health
Book Chapter | Situating Global Mental Health: Sociocultural Perspectives
Online Resource | LivCare: Liverpool Art of Care
An online resource showcasing innovative arts in health partnerships from the city region of Liverpool in the UK.
Book Chapter | Reading for Dementia
Book | Movies, Music and Memory
Journal Article | "If I didn’t know you what would you want me to see?”: Poetic mappings in neo-materialist research with young asylum seekers and refugees
Journal | Perspectives in Public Health
A practice oriented, bi-monthly peer-reviewed journal.
Journal Article | The Capabilities Approach: Fostering Contexts for Enhancing Mental Health and Wellbeing across the Globe
Scoping Review | WHO/UCL Collaborating Centre for Arts & Health
A report, synthesizing the global evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being, with a specific focus on the WHO European Region. This research was led by the WHO/UCL Collaborating Centre for Arts & Health based in the Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health at University College London.
Journal | Journal of Medical Humanities
A peer-reviewed, scholarly journal that publishes innovative research, creative scholarship, poetry, essays, reviews, and short reports in the health humanities
Book | Cabin Fever: Surviving Lockdown in the Coronavirus Pandemic
Journal | Arts and Health
An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice
Online Resource | Hamwe Annual Festival, University of Global Health Equity
Online Resource | What's Up With Everyone?
A campaign led by University of Nottingham and Aardman – co-produced with and for young people – aims to increase mental health literacy.
Journal | BMJ Medical Humanities
An international journal from BMJ and IME publishing studies on the history of medicine, cultures of medicine, disability, gender, bioethics & medical education
Book Chapter | Health Humanities
Book | The Routledge Companion to Health Humanities
Journal | Synapsis
A Health Humanities Journal seeking to develop conversations among diverse people thinking about medical and humanistic ways of knowing.
Back to: Department of English