How government can avoid missing the mark on levelling up

14 Sep 2021

If policymakers get it right for the cultural sector, there may be significant economic and social dividends to be won, argues Eliza Easton.

Belgium prescribes culture for Covid stress

06 Sep 2021

Patients diagnosed with Covid-related stress in Brussels are being prescribed free visits to museums and galleries.

Doctors at Brugmman Hospital are offering visits to five publicly owned sites across the Belgian capital, including its centre for contemporary art, a fashion museum and a museum of the city's sewage system.

“It has been shown that art can be beneficial for health, both mental and physical,” Brussels' City Councillor for Tourism Delphine Houba said.

The idea forms part of a three-month pilot scheme designed to bolster mental health during the pandemic.

Inspiration has come from a similar programme in Quebec, Canada, where doctors prescribe up to 50 museum visits a year per patient.

59% of local authorities report budget increase

Huddersfield Library and Art Gallery
26 Aug 2021

English councils cite the ongoing recovery from Covid-19 as driving both increases and decreases in their budgets.

A golden thread running through a creative career

20 Jul 2021

Whether in policy development, advocacy or nurturing talent, Executive Director of Clore Leadership Hilary Carty’s career is born of a passion for arts and culture.

A new creative renaissance?

image of Justine Simons and London Mayor Sadiq Khan
29 Jun 2021

Despite an incredibly difficult time for arts and culture in London, Justine Simons says the return of visitors to our world-leading cultural attractions is one of many reasons to feel optimistic.

A window on the world of Arab culture

photo of dancer Natalie Salsa
22 Jun 2021

2021 marks 10 years of Shubbak – London’s largest biennial festival of contemporary Arab culture. Eckhard Thiemann charts a turbulent decade.

BAME over - the unintended consequences

28 Apr 2021

With a Government report recommending the dropping of the term BAME, people have been challenging Kevin Osborne’s continued use of it. He remains ambivalent about the proposed change.

Orchestras, opera companies and choirs add £1.6m to public health

11 Mar 2021

Up to two thirds of UK orchestras are already working in health and social care settings. With NHS support, they could be "at the heart of society’s recovery from the mental and economic scars of Covid-19".

National Centre for Creative Health to 'mainstream' arts in health and social care

05 Feb 2021

The initiative will facilitate new interventions by sharing the successes of existing ones, seizing on the UK's growing appetite for creativity as a source of wellbeing.

Arts improve wellbeing, social cohesion and child development: report

01 Oct 2020

A DCMS-commissioned study cites strong evidence that "can be trusted to guide policy" on arts interventions in some areas of health and wellbeing - but not others. 

The arts and mental health: a vibrant field flying under the radar

18 Mar 2020

David Cutler explains why the Baring Foundation will be supporting this flourishing yet sometimes precarious area of work in a major new funding programme.

£2m study into ‘scaling up’ arts and health interventions

Photo of dance thearpy
01 Nov 2019

A research team of artists, scientists and clinicians will investigate “the impact and scalability of arts interventions” on the physical and mental health of more than 800 patients.

Beyond sport, monarchy and wars

A photo of a group of people dressed as WW1 soldiers in Birmingham
29 Aug 2019

First World War centenary commemorations proved that large-scale cultural projects can effectively mark nationally significant events. The question now is ‘what next?’, says Jane Ellison.

The power of collaborative communities

A photo of the atrium of the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal
05 Aug 2019

To unlock the full value of culture, Arts Council England needs to support villages, towns and cities across the country to work together more closely, says the funder's Deputy Chief Executive Simon Mellor.

WWI centenary commissions 'exceptionally successful' despite 'unfortunate' oversights, report says

A photo of a ceramic poppy
16 Jul 2019

A House of Commons Committee report into 14-18 NOW highlights major lessons to be learned in time for the UK's next national cultural event - the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Campaign champions impact of Scottish visual arts

A group of people lit by multi-coloured light
24 May 2019

Art in Action is calling on politicians to “think differently about art” and place it at the heart of their decision-making.

Arts Council of Wales seeks ‘systemic change’ to embed the arts in healthcare

An man and woman dancing
10 May 2019

A new project will investigate new ideas for how the arts can play an “impactful and sustainable” role in health and wellbeing.

British Council to use arts projects in peace-building

A photo of a procession of young people holding a flame
09 May 2019

New research has found academic evidence of the power of culture to draw communities together.

A seat at the table

Photo of Imrana speaking at the Power of Community symposium
24 Apr 2019

Challenging the notion of a ‘hard-to-reach community’ in Luton, Imrana Mahmood explores the need to create pathways that lead to meaningful inclusion.

Lessons in leadership from an interim Chief Executive

Photo of Foundation for Art and Creative Technology Liverpool
23 Apr 2019

What is it like to lead a large and complex organisation? Having just spent some time as an interim chief executive, Matthew Brown reveals what he’s learnt. 

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