Project title
Description of initiative
The pilot project Art and Handicrafts in Emmaboda (KoHiE) was carried out as part of the three-year program Health and Culture in the Kalmar county. KoHiE aimed to investigate whether cultural initiatives in the form of study circles have an effect on perceived health and rehabilitation in people with mental illness. The hypothesis was that participation in cultural activities is a form of rehabilitation that facilitates recovery and thereby promotes the health of the participants. Two circles, one based on art activities, the other on felting, were carried out during the autumn of 2015 until May 2016. Each circle lasted for 10 weeks with two hits a week of three hours/hit and was led by an artist and a wool craftsman.
Further information on the initiative
Themes: Culture and...
Keywords
Target group
Cultural field
Timeframe
Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
The result was unequivocal that KoHiE has been experienced as a health promotion and as a forum for personal development and recovery. The results showed that the participants felt better after participating in the activity and that the activity was perceived as very positive, motivating and inspiring. The meetings were experienced as a breathing space and a place where you felt calm and focused so that you no longer thought about everyday worries. The community in the group was of central importance in the result. Creating together with others was experienced as valuable as it became a more powerful dynamic and open climate to offer and receive feedback and support. The meetings also provided a platform for building new social networks. Something that has been perceived as extra valuable in the context is that the group's participants share the same problems in everyday life with feeling bad mentally. The participants talked about increased self-esteem and self-confidence and that it had become easier to socialize.