A number of challenges face arts and cultural organisations trying to show their impact on public service outcomes. Jessica Harris examines the types of evidence that commissioners want and looks at ways in which arts and cultural organisations have risen to the challenge of providing it.
In a new series exploring opportunities for arts organisations, museums and library services to engage in public service commissioning, Jessica Harris explains the importance of understanding the outcomes commissioners are looking for.
Local authority cuts mean that some libraries are no longer lending music scores to amateur groups. Barbara Eifler explains why she is campaigning to restore this valuable service.
Healthcare workers will receive arts-based training in an attempt to reduce human error in medical interventions and improve patient safety and wellbeing.
Having worked in children’s arts and health in a London hospital, Victoria Jones, now in Melbourne in Australia, compares the respective creative programmes.
Arts organisations call for better evaluation tools as research reveals that the cultural sector is under-selling its role in promoting wellbeing and stronger communities.
The Cultural Value Project examines the value of the arts and culture rather than just its outcomes – and its negative effects. Patrycja Kaszynska introduces the project.
The arts sector and the public are both missing out due to a communication gap between cultural organisations and local government and health commissioners.
A breakthrough in the way that arts in health programmes are developed and researched is set to transport arts activity into the health research mainstream. Tim Joss explains the power of the new AESOP 1 framework.
The findings of a visual arts project for people with mental health problems make the case for further investment in the arts, health and wellbeing sector, says Gavin Clayton.
Dance workshops, courses and events in Somerset have allowed over 400 people with mental health issues to ‘escape their troubled minds’. Viv Gordon discusses their impact.
A shared set of values to assess quality and outcomes needs to replace providing evidence of clinical effectiveness for arts interventions, believes Jane Willis.
A withering letter signed by senior academics raises serious concerns about the recent ACE review of the impact of the arts and the lack of scholarship and consultation with researchers in the field.
Yvonne Farquharson believes that academic research and evaluation are essential to demonstrate the clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of arts in health interventions.
