Mapping of Initiatives on Culture, Health and Well-being

Living Museum Madrid is part of the original movement created by psychologist and artist Janos Marton and artist Bolek Greczynski in the early 1980s in New York. The Living Museum project established a space dedicated to art on the campus of Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital. Today, the Living Museum movement is present in more than 20 countries, including some in the USA, Switzerland, Korea, Georgia, the Netherlands and Germany.
Living Museum is presented as a space for artistic work that promotes the creative and professional development of people with mental disorders and/or disabilities and with an interest in artistic creation. Its main focus is art, promoting the development of personal artistic projects as a support for the empowerment, inclusion and recovery of people with mental health problems, and eliminating the stigma that the label of mental disorder and/or disability represents in our society.
The artistic workshops are based on the Open Studio methodology and are characterised as open, safe and stress-free artistic spaces, adapted to the individual needs and rhythms of each artist. Living Museum seeks to provide an environment where artists feel professionally recognised, and where their work and creative experimentation is valued.
Living Museum Madrid is also a space for socialisation through art, where dialogue and the exchange of artistic experiences is encouraged, where life narratives are generated and the creation of support networks is promoted through art.
From October 2023 to June 2024, Living Museum Madrid has carried out the First Artistic Residencies with the participation of 15 artists. These residencies have taken place at the Centro de Cultura Contemporánea Condeduque in Madrid, ending with the group exhibition El Despliegue de la Pausa (The Deployment of the Pause). This creative space will continue next year, extending the residencies to a total of 20 artists.
Living Museum Madrid is currently focused on establishing alliances with other artistic entities of a similar nature, and among its main objectives is to achieve a permanent location and stable funding that will allow for its growth and continuity in its work of inclusion and empowerment through art.

Through the creative coworking Lab-CREARTE the organizers are developing in an interdisciplinary way integrative projects and initiatives for the Recognition of Heritage Values in its three fundamental aspects: the human, the natural and the cultural, providing new meanings and promoting innovation as axes of Sustainable Development in Rural Ecosystems in line with the SDGs, the Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus (NEB). With the SEEDS OF THE BIOSPHERE initiative, they begin a path of shared reflection and creation of projects and initiatives in cooperation with independent professionals related to the areas of activity that they are developing.
Starting from the CREARTE workshops, in 2018 they began a journey of recognition of people's values and talents as a common thread for educational, socioeconomic and territorial integration projections. “EnTre2 Plan” for Safeguarding and Innovation of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Popular Embroidery of the Sierra de Francia of Salamanca, as a common thread for educational, socioeconomic and territorial integration projections.
From there they continue to investigate and discover, through the SEMILLAS DE LA BIOSFERA initiative and the lines of action ARTESA, ALDABA and TALLERES DE OFICIO, new lines of IMMERSION, TRANSMISSION and CULTURAL INNOVATION.
In relation to Natural Heritage through the CO-CREATORS line of action and the SAVIA and SALUDARTE programs they investigate and design pilot experiences and methodological, participatory and collaborative models of awareness and ecocultural immersion through workshops, Art Itineraries in Nature and artistic interpretation processes based on biological structures, ecosystems and landscapes, inviting us to explore new visions. and integrative aesthetics of nature for the benefit of the community and the CRAFTS, NEW CULTURAL INDUSTRIES and ECOTOURISM sectors.

The "I Hear Good Sounds" (Słyszę Dobre Dźwięki [SDD]) campaign primarily educates about the dangers of noise pollution but also inspires to create spaces of silence, relaxation, and good sounds. At the very beginning, it informed the citizens about how to create an acoustically friendly environment and how to navigate in a world filled with sounds. We educated the province's inhabitants about the ecology of sounds through conferences, workshops, outdoor activities, banner campaigns, hearing tests, and contests for School and City Harmony Zones. Later, the organizers began to consider good sounds more broadly – in the context of inclusive culture. They decided they should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, place of residence, or health condition. And so the idea of an annual summary of the campaign and a festival of inclusive culture was born: the "I Hear Good Sounds" Festival, a festival for families, seniors, and youth, where are invited outstanding artists to create a community of good sounds.
The campaign stands out not only through its educational activities (targeted at age-diverse groups of recipients - from children and youth to seniors) but also thanks to its innovativeness and non-standard actions. The initiative goes beyond traditional educational methods (especially those proposed by musical institutions) through, among others, education about hearing, organising free hearing tests, supporting the creation of School Harmony Zones in schools, and a festival addressing therapeutic aspects of sound and psychophysical well-being, as well as the role of music in shaping it. This places the entire campaign as a pioneer in making communities aware of the importance of hearing health and the impact of surrounding sounds on our well-being.
Organising events as part of the I Hear Good Sounds Campaign changes the social approach to noise and health issues while also serving as an example of a modern approach to health education.

This online platform includes projects and programs developed by institutions, companies and associations in the world of culture that use art as a tool for social participation. It originates from the Art and Participation program that the Picasso Museum Málaga has been developing since 2004, the purpose of which is to promote effective integration and real accessibility to art and culture for everyone.
Since 2004, the Picasso Museum Málaga has developed an art and social participation program aimed at groups with functional diversity and/or at risk of social exclusion whose purpose is to promote effective integration and real accessibility to art and culture for all.
Furthermore, in these years, participatory and long-term projects have been launched with the main objective of developing actions in the participants' socio-emotional and cognitive skills through a periodic and prolonged relationship with the visual arts, enhancing the creation of community.
After the analysis of the results obtained in these years, it is corroborated that during the development of these projects, the participants acquired skills that favor their empowerment and facilitate the processes of social participation. Given these positive results, the Department of Educational and Cultural Activities of the Picasso Museum Málaga carries out a continuous process of research into the strategies developed in our country, to understand and evaluate how and to what extent the development of these skills occurs.
It is in this context that this online platform is inserted, which arises from the compilation and analysis of initiatives that use art and creativity as a tool for social participation and which proposes to be a reference place for consultations and research related to the social, art, education or health fields, among others.

This initiative is dedicated to the hearing-impaired audience, in order to facilitate their communication and remove any technical obstacles to accessing culture and art. One way of meeting the needs of those who are deaf or hard of hearing was to translate songs from the “Ślask” repertoire into sign language. The next step was to tailor the current artistic and educational offer for those who are hard of hearing but do not use sign language. There will be more inclusive events, as well as a staff training programme to enhance their knowledge and competence regarding the above disabilities.

ΕΜΣΤ participates with two art psychotherapy groups for mental health patients in the pilot action SUB.2.1 “Cultural Prescription as Supplementary Treatment in Mental Health” of the Ministry of Culture.
The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Health signed in September 2021 a Memorandum of Cooperation for the design and implementation of an innovative Cultural Prescription program. With this program, initiatives are adopted that include the arts and culture in preventive and therapeutic treatment to promote the mental health and well-being of citizens, recognizing the beneficial role of contemporary artistic creation in the health and well-being of individuals.
The implementation of the Cultural Prescription program presupposes the conduct of a research project for the design, implementation and evaluation of the individual actions within the framework of the overall program, in order to achieve the best result. Additionally, the research team will develop appropriate tools for monitoring and evaluating the action framework. To this end, the contracting parties cooperate in a mutually complementary manner for the implementation of the program within the framework of the common public purpose of the creation, planning and implementation of the Cultural Prescription program.
The object of this action is the derivation of a Research Project aiming to create the organizational framework for the inclusion of Cultural Prescription as a complementary treatment for people facing mental health problems or psychological problems from chronic diseases, the design and pilot implementation of the program, the study on the effects of patient contact with art and culture, the process and ways of participation of patients and cultural institutions, and the supervision and evaluation of the program in order to improve it. It will also develop the appropriate tools so that the action can be integrated into the electronic platform of immaterial prescription of IDIKA S.A.

Colors & Minds was an experiential Artistic Program raising awareness in the Psychosocial Sector for Young People, and was jointly organized by the following entities: the National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens (ΕΜΣΤ), Association of Social Responsibility for Children and Youth (SKEP), Association for Regional Development and Mental Health (EPAPSY) and the voluntary artistic initiative Talks & Crafts.
The experiential Artistic Program had as a goal the deployment of visual arts to promote an understanding and acceptance of the world around us with the ultimate aim of creating a more friendly society for all. It involved young people from the general population (students from the Athens School of Fine Arts, the Art and Psychotherapy Centre and volunteers), as well as recipients of mental health services.
Inspired by Vlassis Caniaris’ work Hopscotch (1974), the participants were invited to use different artistic means (drawing, photography/video, sculpture, installation, performance) and text to experientially explore contemporary art through various conceptual aspects of the specific work.
Colors and Minds was held at ΕΜΣΤ from October 2023 to May 2024. A presentation of the artworks created by the participants was on view from May 21 until May 26, 2024.
Τhe program was closed and had predetermined participants in order to fulfill the educational and therapeutic goals of all meetings.

The program aims to educate young people through various form. The educational theatrical performance (based on therapeutic scenarios within the scope of health prevention) is engaging emotions and stimulates thinking, the competition stimulates creativity, and the online course allows for individual acquiring and consolidating knowledge. It all adds up for a comprehensive preventive program that not only provides information, but also inspires to be healthy and live/lead a conscious life. The mission is educating young people to live in freedom and sobriety, without addictions: nicotine, alcoholism and drug addiction.
EDUCATION THROUGH ART
Theatrical performance “Chemical Mood Change vs. Positive Emotions Without Stimulants” narrates a story of someone who hopes to change their life and provides an opportunity for viewers to understand what addiction really means and how to defend ourselves against them. Education about risky actions is one of the main goals of the play. The second, no less important, is to give alternative strategies. The script has been consulted and approved by methodologists in 2016, to be appropriate for young people from the age of 12.
LITERARY AND ART COMPETITION
The goal is to initiate reflection among young people and encourage them to express their own thoughts about addiction and its dangers. Young people are encouraged to engage in preventive thinking and to express their introspection through artistic works, touching on intellectual, emotional and sensory topics. Through these literary and artistic works the development of skills in these areas is supported.
PREVENTIVE COURSES on mental and physical health prevention. First of them is about mental well-being and addresses the issue of stress. Purpose of the course is to give young people tools how to deal with stress, so they don't look for relief in harmful substances. The second course touches more closely on the issue of physical health prevention - applies to popular energy drinks.

The 7th edition of "Haczyk | Gliwice literary meetings" had the main emphasis on historical motifs. Set in a broad literary, artistic and popular science context, it was an opportunity to discuss various topics related to the historical heritage of the region, country and Europe. It was an opportunity for participants to expand their literary horizons and get to know history better, and for children and teenagers was an opportunity to take part in unusual history lessons.
"Haczyk" consisted of author meetings, walks, historical competition, exhibition of photos of old Gliwice, workshops: archaeological, historical, genealogical and artistic with a city theme, historical picnic.
During numerous workshops and meetings for younger audiences, the organizers showed how history was created, how to reconstruct and research it, in order to arouse children and young people's curiosity about the world around them, to provoke them to ask questions and look for answers, because "the past is today."
The project was aimed at a wide group of recipients: children, youth, adults and seniors. The offer for each group was adapted to the age and sensitivity of the recipients. Some events were translated into Polish sign language, architectural accessibility and an induction loop was ensured.
It was co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Culture Promotion Fund - a state earmarked fund.

1. The activities carried out as part of the project in the school include:
- cultural and historical tours in the Opole Voivodeship (Nysa, Paczków, Niemodlin, Brzeg, Opole, Małujowice, Byczyna)
- engaging in cooking, baking, sewing, and performing household preserves, baking traditional pies with the use of traditional recipes and products
- conducting discussion panels, lectures, and meetings aimed at familiarizing and reminding local traditions, the history of the Opole region, and instilling passions for cognition
- cultural activities titled "Nature in the era of art" - introducing the art of Impressionists connected with learning about the use of plants and floristic techniques for practical purposes
- organizing photography skill workshops
- creating an educational game "I have, I know Opole"
- a singing contest for the youngest participants (preschool units) "Festival Opole - I sing too"
- all additional activities lead to the integration of the local community of all age groups
2. Three years of organization Family Days, whose leading theme "You're a star" showcases the local talents of students, residents of the community. During these events, the local community is presented with diverse talents of individuals, historical activities, and attempts at social integration. The school and local community have the opportunity to engage with music, dance, and singing performed by students, parents, residents, as well as musicians from Opole, who performed a music concert.
3. Organization of activities developing creativity, including theater classes and vocal classes, during which students prepare for performances organized within the facility, for example "The Little Match Girl", "Hansel and Gretel", "Little Red Riding Hood" as well as at the Community Cultural Center in Dobrzeń Wielki - "Kacperek" and especially on the boards of the big stage of the J. Kochanowski Theater in Opole – the play "The Nutcracker". The activities integrate the entire families of the Kup community, as well as the surrounding localities. The school disseminates the results of its actions by inviting students from other municipal educational institutions, as well as schools from Opole, and wards from the social care homes in Ładza and Dobrzeń Wielki, thus preventing social exclusion.
The activities carried out by the educational institution within the framework of cultural education significantly enriched the offer proposed by the core curriculum. Students have acquired and developed a range of artistic skills that will certainly be useful in the next stages of education and in their future lives. Among the projects activities will stimulate curiosity about the world, acquaintance with tradition, history and local and regional cultures, and will build sensitivity to aesthetics, art and music. The school has established new contacts with cultural institutions - the Jan Kochanowski Theater in Opole, where they will conduct authorial workshops on acting.