Mapping of Initiatives on Culture, Health and Well-being

The primary goal of annual meeting of witnesses of history, organized within Zajezdnia History Center, is to acknowledge and recognize their contribution to the institution's projects and to the historical research. This ceremonial event is tied to promoting seniors' mental health by providing opportunities for social connection and validation. By addressing these key aspects, the project strives to create a supportive and enriching environment where seniors can thrive and enjoy a sense of fulfillment and well-being in their later years.

The programme provides opportunities for those who are eager to explore the Wilanów commons and parks in Ursynów to immerse themselves in nature. People are invited to the temporary exhibition, educational and recreational workshops inspired by integral ecology and an outdoor game (geocaching).
The project aims to draw attention to today's ecological challenges. It is also an invitation to the local community (especially in the vicinity of the Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszyński: residents of Wilanów and Ursynów) to engage in nature-friendly and cultural activities and encourage entire families to have an efficient and responsible leisure time. The project consists of several complementary elements: outdoor exhibition, geocaching, creative and handicraft workshops, outdoor concerts. Each of them are prepared in an attractive form for different age groups: using new technologies for young people and analog forms for older individuals.

The cycling workshops in Kampinoski National Park are an unconventional offering from the Mt 5,14 | Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszyński, aimed at adults who enjoy combining substantive knowledge with active leisure on a bike. The Kampinoski Forest is an ideal location to do this, for three reasons. Firstly, in the local villages and forest trails, there are many little-known relics associated with the life and activities of Stefan Wyszyński, who during the German occupation served as chaplain at the Blind Institute in Laski and as a pastor of the Home Army "Kampinos" Group, which earned an honorable mention in the Warsaw Uprising. Secondly, active leisure, so highly promoted today by doctors, psychologists, and athletes, is an opportunity for creative time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It also provides an opportunity to learn about many fascinating episodes from the homeland's history for those who may be bored by the traditional style of knowledge transmission through lectures and conferences. Thirdly, and finally, it is an excellent opportunity to get to know the exceptional national park located at the gates of the capital – a location rarely encountered and having its counterparts only in a few national parks worldwide that are adjacent to the capital city (Vienna, Budapest, Caracas, Nairobi).

“Museotherapy” is an annual conference held by a group of scientists and practitioners on the sociotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic working methods applied in museums. During the two-day meeting, they are examining the relations and the impact of educational programs on beneficiaries and employees from various cultural heritage institutions.
Museotherapy implies also a set of educational activities, working in groups (schools and individual people) characterized by stress, lack of wellbeing, cancer, emotional issues. The aim is to make a difference in people's life and show that museums can be a "safe space" where everyone can feel good, breaking thinking patterns and see other perspectives.

Children learn to navigate life through music activities structured over a story that comes to life through with puppets that are also instruments. The activities and the story are activated by a mission: We receive a message in a bottle - an SOS! We are now to find ways to help. This leads us to join in on a journey with a boy and a girl lost, alone and frozen, but with our help are now sailing towards a new home. During the travel over the endless sea, we visit different places: Ex The planet of dreams, where the little bubble daydream lullabies into escapism and and big dreamer makes greedy. We help the lost children creating strategies to deal with these, as well as Fear, Anger and other emotions that we meet on the two children´s path towards a place where they again can live together with happiness and gratefulness. The exploration of the emotions, and how to handle them so that they become helpers, are done both through movement, drama, singing and playing on instruments.

Senior Citizens' Month is organized annually in October. The aim of this project is to ensure that seniors actively participate in events organized by the Commune in the areas of culture, art, science, health, entertainment, tourism, sports and recreation.

Arts on Prescription (AoP) in the Baltic Sea Region 2023-2025 is an Interreg Baltic Sea Region project co-funded by the European Union.
The project’s partners are jointly developing a generic AoP programme concept, based on existing evidence and best practice, and adapting it to local conditions in partnering countries – Denmark, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden. The programme will be piloted by local and regional public authorities in cooperation with cultural institutions and evaluated for its health effects, organisational set-up and economic benefits.
Additionally, the project partners are developing an online Arts on Prescription Practitioner’s Guide, which will aid and support public authorities, cultural and health institutions engage people with mental health challenges in social and non-therapy art activities to improve their mental wellbeing.
In the final phase of the project the AoP concept programme will be transferred to other cities and regions who will also have access to and support of the online practitioner’s guide and a rent-an-expert programme. Furthermore, the project partners will initiate a dialogue with national authorities and health insurance funds in order to improve the structural support and financing options for AoP in the long-term.

The Podlaskie Museum in Białystok is the owner of the palace and park complex in Choroszcz, which includes a palace with the Museum of Palace Interiors and a park from the 18th century. The museum and park are an ideal place combining culture, art, health, a healthy lifestyle and well-being. The park requires a lot of investment to fully benefit from its advantages. The Podlasie Museum in Białystok systematically takes steps to make it as fully accessible as possible to residents, tourists and guests. The park is used for therapy by patients of the nearby psychiatric hospital.

“Museotherapy” is an annual conference held by a group of scientists, practitioners - public that is fascinated with sociotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic working methods applied in museums. During the two-day meeting, we are examining the relations of educational programs beneficiaries and employees from various cultural heritage institutions.
Museotherapy is also a set of education activities. We working in groups (schools and individual peple) with stres, problems with wellbeing, cancer, emocional issues.
We want make diffrence in peple lifes and show that museum can be "safe space" when everyone can feel good and with the help of art can change thinking perspective of life.

This pilot project consists of prescribing guided visits to museums from health centres. It is aimed at elderly people who suffer from unsought loneliness, social isolation or physical inactivity in the city of Valencia. The main objective is "to improve the health of the participants by combating a sedentary lifestyle and strengthening their self-esteem." Six museums or cultural spaces and six health centres of Valencia have participated in this pilot project by offering two guided tours for each group. Once the pilot project is over and after a final evaluation, the project scope will be broaden to the entire region of Valencia (Comunitat Valenciana).