Research and analysis

Evidence summary for policy: The role of arts in improving health and wellbeing

This report reviews the evidence base around the role of arts in improving health and wellbeing

Documents

Details

This evidence summary draws together literature on the role of arts in improving health and wellbeing. DCMS commissioned this report by Dr Daisy Fancourt, University College London, in response to the 2019 World Health Organisation report entitled “What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and wellbeing?”

It focuses on how arts engagement can impact on 1) social outcomes, 2) youth development and 3) the prevention of mental and physical illness. It also considers how Social Prescribing programmes that have used arts interventions can impact on the above three outcomes. The evidence summary assesses the type and quality of evidence available for each outcome.

This report was commissioned prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and completed in March 2020.

Updates to this page

Published 22 September 2020

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