Project title
Description of initiative
The pilot project Art and Handicrafts in Emmaboda (KoHiE) was carried out as part of the three-year program Health and Culture in the health county of Kalmar County. KoHiE was planned as a recovery-oriented rehabilitation project aimed to investigate whether cultural initiatives in the form of study circles have an effect on perceived health and rehabilitation in people with mental illness. Two circles, one based on art activities, the other on felting, were carried out during the autumn of 2015 until May 2016. Each circle lasted for 10 weeks with two hits a week of three hours / hit and was led by an artist and a wool craftsman. The participation in cultural activities was a form of rehabilitation that facilitated recovery and thereby promoted the health of the participants. The community in the group was of central importance. The participants regain their faith in the future and for many it was to find a way forward, see opportunities, and to develop, both privately and in public arenas.
Further information on the initiative
Themes: Culture and...
Keywords
Target group
Cultural field
Timeframe
Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
The result was unequivocal that KoHiE has been experienced as a health promotion and as a forum for personal development and recovery. The results showed that the participants felt better after participating in the activity and that the activity was perceived as very positive, motivating and inspiring. The meetings were experienced as a breathing space and a place where you felt calm and focused so that you no longer thought about everyday worries. For one participant, the participation led to her even stopping using psychotropic drugs precisely to maintain her mental acuity during the KoHiE meetings.