Mapping of Initiatives on Culture, Health and Well-being

The Anima Sana project carried out by the I love Bucharest team proposed a cultural intervention project, which integrates the visual arts in the institutional health environment in Romania. It all started in 2012 as an artistic intervention in the space of two waiting rooms and an access corridor in the doctors' offices in the "Alfred Rusescu" Institute for Mother and Child Care building, with works created by young visual artists. The project continued in 2013, contributing to the well-being of the medical staff, patients, relatives.

The project is concentrating on increasing the participation of disabled people in cultural institutions and improving their accessibility to these institutions. The project encompasses training and education for cultural workers and information campaign, and giving certificates to institutions which implement the regulations that they have outlined as best practice. The project is realized in partnership with NGOs such as Fundacją Kultury Bez Barier, Fundacją Siódmy Zmysł, Fundacją Między Uszami), cultural institutions and academics and consists of hundreds events organised to share best practices and discuss ways of increasing participation of disabled people in the cultural life and events held across the Malopolska region as well as events organised for the target group.

(In)Visible project brings together professional actors and users of Associação Recomeço, and its main objective is to combat discrimination and the stigma of mental illness through the arts. The project is part of the Portuguese Partnership Support Program - Art and Mental Health whose main objective is to stimulate the development of artistic projects, such as way to combat discrimination and stigma associated with mental illness.

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania and “Social Art Projects” organization together with the following partners - the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania, the British Council, the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Lithuania, Manchester Metropolitan University and The Bridge Trust Charity Foundation - are organizing an international conference entitled “Art and Mental Health. Creative Partnership - Politics and Practice” which presents the experience of Lithuania, the United Kingdom and Finland in implementing cross-sectoral programs focused on strengthening public health and increasing well-being.

Arts for Health refers to non-clinical, but evidence-based interventions that focus on the participatory, artistic process. Arts for Health does not claim to have a therapeutic character. The participants act actively as artists (in the making) and thus step out of being passive patients. Most Arts for Health initiatives are usually led by professional artists and are scientifically monitored and evaluated. The goal of Arts for Health Austria (AfHA) is to create a connection between art and the public health sector in Austria. AfHA sees itself as an interface between artists, researchers and healthcare facilities as well as a national and international networking tool and information point for everyone interested in this area.
Keep breathing is developed by AfHA and is a singing program for those who have already completed Aufatmen (another project of AfHA). This group meets once a week to continue working with the singing coaches on the elements of the original breathing and music program for people with long Covid.

Arts for Health refers to non-clinical, but evidence-based interventions that focus on the participatory, artistic process. Arts for Health does not claim to have a therapeutic character. The participants act actively as artists (in the making) and thus step out of being passive patients. Most Arts for Health initiatives are usually led by professional artists and are scientifically monitored and evaluated. The goal of ARTS for HEALTH AUSTRIA (AfHA) is to create a connection between art and the public health sector in Austria. AfHA sees itself as an interface between artists, researchers and healthcare facilities as well as a national and international networking tool and information point for everyone interested in this area.
Breath easy developed by AfHA is a 6-week breathing and music training program for people affected by long-Covid, to improve their breathing and support their physical and mental well-being. Breathing easy can improve the breathing mechanism, reduce feelings of anxiety and support ways of self- help. It can be followed online and some times face to face. The program is artistically supported by audio and video recordings of professional singers and musicians.

Dance & Creative Wellness Forum aims to bring together dance institutions, practitioners, healthcare innovators, health insurers and policy makers in a lively exchange of dialogue, dance experience and ideas. The first edition of the Forum was in 2016 and annually the event create spaces for a structured dialogue and brainstorming opportunities; they bring key stakeholders together to move the field of dance forward in order to address global health and well-being challenges.

The project was developed to improve the accessibility of basic art education and children's culture in the different parts of the country, promote the creativity of children and young people, and improve the accessibility of art and culture promoting the beneficial effects art has on well-being. It is done by increasing the number of arts and crafts classes in schools, encouraging them to create and view arts. The objective is to reinforce the sense of belonging in the school community and increase children’s equal opportunities to have hobbies. The project also aims to improve the accessibility of art and culture, thereby promoting the beneficial effects art has on well-being. The purpose is to create an operational method that helps facilitate the procurement of art and culture-related services in the social and health care system, and including more services from different areas of art and culture in the care and customer services provided by social and healthcare services (hospitals, services for older people, and child welfare).

The Well-being Power Plant of Eastern Finland develops comprehensive well-being services, enhances know-how related to these services and strengthens collaboration between research and development, education and work-life. At the background of the network of collaboration is the need to increase the well-being of the residents of the area and to take care of the strength and availability of qualified professionals in the region.
The emphasis of the Well-being Power Plant (VOIMALA), which was founded in 2018, targets collaboration between social, health, well-being and cultural fields. In multiprofessional well-being services cultural know-how is integrated as a part of the education, execution and management of social and health services. The activity of Well-being Power Plants is based on adopting a comprehensive and systemic thought model. The operational model is not bound to place or region, but per se duplicable both nationally and internationally. The most important aim of the network is having a social impact; enhancing pervasive well-being and its development in a multi-operator collaboration.

Project to promote well-being from art and culture. Music and dance are rooted as an everyday part of the activity of the social, health, and educational sectors

This project proposed by the Ravensburg Art Museum is aimed at people who are confronted with life-changing situations as a result of an illness. They will be given the opportunity to experience art and museum as complementary support with an experienced art therapist. With a voucher (valid for 12 months including an accompanying person), which participants can get in the office of the art museum or from the partners of the project (specialists in the region), they have the opportunity to take part in a specially designed tour followed by a workshop. The project is an initiative of the Friends of the Ravensburg Art Museum.