Mapping of Initiatives on Culture, Health and Well-being

"Dancing Together" is a project where preschoolers and seniors meet through dance and movement.
During 2024 and 2025, dance gatherings was organized in several municipalities across the county of Uppsala where preschoolers in the age of 4-5 regularly visited seniors at day centers or nurcing homes to share the joy of dancing. The main part of the seniors had dementia or another type of cognitive impairment. The sessions were led by an experienced dance instructor, and each occasion had a special theme, such as "helping each other" or "circus." After dancing, the groups came together for a shared moment with coffee, fruit and conversation, creating space for connections and memories across generations.
The project is based on the idea how dance and movement strengthen the body and are important for our health. Social settings and meaningful encounters are valuable for both young and old, creating a sense of community and participation. Their hope is that the initiative will continue and inspire ongoing collaboration between child and elder care services.
One of the projects led to the creation of a crafting corner, where children and seniors continued to meet even after the dance sessions to create, paint, and craft together. This spontaneous continuation highlights the value of creating natural meeting places where culture can serve as a bridge.

Dancing together is a collaboration between Region Uppsala and Uppsala, Tierp, Östhammar, Knivsta and Håbo municipality

Re-connecta’t (Reconnect) is a 4-year project aimed at exploring the impact of regular theatre practice on the development and well-being of children and youth.

Launched in 2024 by Plàudite Teatre in collaboration with a research team from the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS) and supported by Catalonia's Health Department, the initiative was inspired by the challenges young people faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely disrupted interpersonal connections and community participation. Studies, such as the Catalan Youth Observatory’s Youth "COVID-19, and Inequalities" and reports by Acción contra el Hambre, highlighted significant increases in mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and self-harm among adolescents, making this demographic especially vulnerable.

While the benefits of cultural and artistic activities on mental health are well-documented (e.g., WHO’s 2019 report and the 2022 CultureForHealth report), scientific evidence specifically linking theatre to mental health and wellbeing remains scarce. Plàudite, active in theatre since 1998, has observed its potential for improving mental health, fostering resilience, and building supportive communities, particularly in urban, multicultural areas like L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona Metropolitan Area).

The project aims to scientifically evaluate theatre’s influence on emotional management, self-esteem, and well-being. Seventy-five fourth-grade students from two schools in L'Hospitalet will participate in biweeky theatre classes over four academic years, with results compared to a control group of 50 students from a school without such activities.

Using validated scales such as TMMS-24 for emotional management and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, data will be collected annually through questionnaires administered before and after theatre courses. Variables include emotional management (primary), self-esteem, biological sex, age, and family or pathological history (secondary).

The project anticipates improvements in emotional management, self-esteem, and well-being among participants, highlighting the potential of theatre in schools as a tool for mental health promotion and prevention. If successful, the findings could support the broader adoption of theatre-based interventions for fostering emotional resilience and well-being in communities.

By the beginning of 2021, three Ghent museums (i.e. Museum dr. Guislain, Huis van Alijn and Heritage House Sisters of Charity) decided to deepen their expertise on cultural heritage and wellbeing. Under the heading ‘ErfGoedVoelen’ and in collaboration with partners from the healthcare, research and educational sector, they submitted a project proposal to the Flemish Government via the Cultural Heritage Decree, to examine and facilitate wellbeing-oriented cultural heritage interventions. Through four pilot projects, ErfGoedVoelen addressed a different group each time: (1) adolescents receiving support from a psychiatric institution, (2) home-based adults with (young onset) dementia and their informal caregivers, (3) children receiving support from a psychiatric institution, and (4) home-based individuals over-55s experiencing social isolation. During weekly meetings at the museums, several cultural heritage methods (e.g. object handling, object storytelling, creating) were used.
Although the cultural heritage sector is increasingly committed to developing its outreach efforts whereby heritage collections are used to promote wellbeing, little is known about the giving of meaning of and by those involved.
The research report associated with the ErfGoedVoelen project aims to explore the meaning and prerequisites of wellbeing-focused cultural heritage interventions. Using an interpretive research design, it offers valuable insight into the important role these projects can play for both participants and professionals, along with a thorough analysis of the factors and conditions that contribute to their success.

The organisation believes in art as a means to increase human well-being, especially in those moments when we are most vulnerable, such as during hospital stays. For that reason they organize art exhibitions and workshops always related to art in hospitals.

The organisation is implementing the incubation phase of the Prevention through Culture project under the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The project is under the patronage of the Government Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Klára Laurenčíková.
The project is based on an international cooperation with the Danish National Centre for Art and Mental Health, where art activities are proven to be functional and effective in promoting the building of psychological resilience, prevention of mental illness, a tool for developing socialization and learning prerequisites.
The aim of the project is to transfer this good practice to the Czech environment and modify it to fit the specifics of the Czech environment. Prevention through Culture is an activity aimed at creating an effective and safe tool for prevention and education in the field of mental health, mental literacy and socio-emotional learning through the implementation of Creative playing under the guidance of trained artists.
The organisation is cooperating with the National Institute of Mental Health of the Czech Republic on the evaluation and probing of the project. The evaluation survey will serve as a basis for further advocacy.

Art is a guarantee of mental health,” said Louise Bourgeois, a major artistic figure of the 20th century. Research over the past 20 years supports her statement, highlighting that engaging in artistic activities generates a wide range of benefits: promoting well-being, quality of life, physical and mental health, and social capital.
The program implemented two years ago offers patients suffering from depression an introduction to art and an opportunity to engage in creative artistic endeavors. Patients referred by the hospital service to MO.CO. participate in artistic practice workshops (visual arts, dance) specifically designed by invited artists, drawing inspiration from the contemporary art center’s programming. Groups of about a dozen participants, led by a professional artist, meet over a period of five weeks.

The Grounding retreat program was born from the need to support, empower, and connect female activists, and artists who work with the community. They have organized two editions of the program. The first was held in Kelebia, a village near Subotica, and the second (2024.) regional meeting included women from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Greece, and Hungary and it was held in Utrine.

Darba Waħda… is an intergenerational project led by Anna Formosa that took place between 2015 and 2019 during which children and older people were given a safe space to share and learn from each other through creative methods including drama, games and exercises, arts and crafts, storytelling, improvisations etc. By means of the carefully structured workshops and involvement of professional artists, participants unleashed their creativity, built friendships and developed new skills together. Darba waħda… was about using creativity to harness the strengths, potentials and achievements of elderly people, and the joy and youthfulness of children to provide a line of communication that transcends the generational divide. There were 18 projects of 10 weekly sessions each, spread around Malta and Gozo over the years, the last one being a special edition. This was followed by another 3 projects in schools supported by the National Literacy Agency..

FilHERmonia is an annual series of events that represents another chapter in the Philharmonic's history, dedicated to themes related to women, art, and health. For years, October has been globally recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and FilHERmonia focuses not only on medical aspects but also on this topic's psychological, social, and cultural dimensions.
Women representing various fields of art and science, such as artists, musicians, conductors, composers, managers, and music lovers, have always been part of the Philharmonic. The entire month is devoted to caring for the body, skin, spirit, and mind while simultaneously creating an atmosphere of sisterhood. We believe that constant development, which requires moments of pause, finding harmony, and self-care, is a critical element of life.
FilHERmonia is an initiative created by women, about women, and for women. It combines art and science and emphasises the symbiosis of spirit and body. We focus not only on breast cancer prevention but also on mental health, both in everyday life and during illness. During each event, we emphasise both the history of predecessors and the present while also looking to the future.
As part of the FilHERmonia series, concerts are organised, led by outstanding female musicians under the baton of renowned conductors and dedicated to magnificent female composers. In addition, each edition offers lectures, workshops, film screenings, exhibitions, and promotion of preventive examinations. These events are an integral part of the Philharmonic's seasonal program while aligning with the global "Pink October" initiative. FilHERmonia is not just a series of artistic events but also a platform promoting health and balance for all women and their surroundings.

The Mental Power Prague Film Festival is an international film festival featuring actors (non-actors) with mental and combined disabilities.
With its 17-year history, the festival serves as an inspirational meeting place for artists and audiences. Since its inception, the festival has become a significant platform where individuals with mental disabilities can showcase their works and share their stories with the world.