The recent Arts Council England strategy for 2020-2030 had a focus on arts and health concluding that:

There is growing evidence that creative and cultural activity can lead to improved health and wellbeing. We want to develop deeper partnerships with the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, social care providers and others to support further research in this area, learn from what is proven to work internationally, and explore the potential of promising new approaches such as social prescribing

The festival is a fantastic opportunity for our cultural partners to find out more about arts and health and work with us to further develop activities in this sector.

We have the knowledge, expertise and relationships within the sector and would love to share this with our cultural partners and support organisations to create a sustainable arts and health offering.

How you can get involved:

• Host a headline event with us. We can provide the expertise if you can provide resources
• Come on board as a brand sponsor for full exposure and support
• Include creativity and wellbeing events in your programme during the week
• Help us spread the word, link to our festival events
• Work with local partners, we can help you find the best partners for an event who can bring specialist expertise to your event and organisation

In 2019 the week kicked off with a  Creative Health Conference at the Southbank Centre that included keynotes from both the Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and Simon Stevens, NHS England chief executive. The event was attended by over 700 people from across the arts, health and academic sectors.

Here, in a film from our 2019 partner Thrive LDN Gillian Moore, Director of Music at the Southbank Centre, introduces the conference: