Academic to champion ‘arts recognition in policy’

A charity that supports people to be creative in their “everyday lives” has named an academic at University College London one of its ambassadors.

Professor DAISY FANCOURT, a specialist in psychobiology and epidemiology, whose book Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health is published this year, will promote and support Creative Lives.

Fancourt said it was a “true privilege” to join the charity in the ambassadorial role, which she will hold alongside existing positions as director of the National Centre for Social Prescribing Data & Analysis, and director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre on Arts & Health.

The organisation, meanwhile, welcomed her as someone whose “research and publications provide extensive evidence to support the work of Creative Lives in championing community-led creative groups, and the impact of everyday creativity”.

The move, the charity said, would see it work together with Fancourt to “achieve a step change in public and policy recognition of the importance of arts participation”.

“Creative Lives plays such an important role championing creative engagement in the UK and supporting grassroots activities and organisations working within communities,” said Fancourt.

“I hope that together we can continue to raise the profile of the phenomenal impact that this work has.”