Mapping of Initiatives on Culture, Health and Well-being

The Well-being Power Plant of Eastern Finland develops comprehensive well-being services, enhances know-how related to these services and strengthens collaboration between research and development, education and work-life. At the background of the network of collaboration is the need to increase the well-being of the residents of the area and to take care of the strength and availability of qualified professionals in the region.
The emphasis of the Well-being Power Plant (VOIMALA), which was founded in 2018, targets collaboration between social, health, well-being and cultural fields. In multiprofessional well-being services cultural know-how is integrated as a part of the education, execution and management of social and health services. The activity of Well-being Power Plants is based on adopting a comprehensive and systemic thought model. The operational model is not bound to place or region, but per se duplicable both nationally and internationally. The most important aim of the network is having a social impact; enhancing pervasive well-being and its development in a multi-operator collaboration.

Project to promote well-being from art and culture. Music and dance are rooted as an everyday part of the activity of the social, health, and educational sectors

This project proposed by the Ravensburg Art Museum is aimed at people who are confronted with life-changing situations as a result of an illness. They will be given the opportunity to experience art and museum as complementary support with an experienced art therapist. With a voucher (valid for 12 months including an accompanying person), which participants can get in the office of the art museum or from the partners of the project (specialists in the region), they have the opportunity to take part in a specially designed tour followed by a workshop. The project is an initiative of the Friends of the Ravensburg Art Museum.

Music is used in different ways to positively influence the recovery process of sick people, pain reduction and contributing to improve overall well-being. The project has its own concert series with regular concerts in the foyer of the main building, performances throughout the year with other partners and offers a special consultation hour for musicians. They also conduct scientific studies on the effectiveness of music on the human body.

Art & Health Festival was to pose the question of health from the perspective of art, i.e. to artistically question the concept of health and to make the importance of the arts for health a topic. The range of artistic contributions demonstrated the potential of artistic engagement with the subject of health. With this project, a broad social discussion has been initiated, which can develop health and art-promoting effects. Art & Health Festival includes exhibitions, concerts, workshops and hands-on experiences.

In the school years 2017/18 and 2018/19, STADTKULTUR organized a state-wide cultural education project entitled "I'll make you healthy", which focused on the topic of health and the health-promoting effect of the arts. In workshops led by professional artists from the fields of music, literature, dance, theatre, media, visual arts and youth culture, school children from all types of schools dealt with the topic of health. Sustainable experiences were made possible through active design and personal experience.
STADTKULTUR subsidized workshops in all areas that were carried out with schools of all types and designed a final publication. Within the framework of "I'll make you healthy", STADTKULTUR and GORILLLA Germany cooperate as value alliance partners. GORILLA Deutschland is a team of freestyle athletes and nutrition professionals and is working in interactive, exercise-oriented formats on the topics of balanced nutrition, responsible consumption, daily exercise and positive future prospects.

The arts design ca n have the potential to increase quality of life and promote health. This potential was tested in the two-year pilot project "Healthy with Art". In 2019/2020, workshops were held at 20 museums and municipal galleries that contribute to health promotion with artistic methods, under the overall direction of STADTKULTUR Netzwerk Bayerischer Städte eV, funded by AOK Bayern and evaluated by the Arts and Change Department of the Medical School Hamburg (MSH).

Integration project to create a sense of connection between children in regular 4th garde classes and those who have recently arrived in one of Montreal’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods. It consists of museum tours, creative workshops and the creation of a short play inspired by the artworks. It helps newly arrived children to express themselves, introduce them to Quebec culture and forge relationships.

The art therapy research project explores the "existential migration" experienced by people who have left voluntarily their home country and how important is artistic expression in such life journeys. It involves: visits and workshops leading to the construction of a life narrative are conducted, as well as the creation of works using motifs drawn from maps; exhibiting such meaningful works in an MMFA presentation. Help newly arrived to express themselves, translating as needed to facilitate the creative process.

The project Seeds of Hope aims to heighten awareness among visitors about suicide and its impact on families and communities through the presentation of masks made by people affected by it. Tours focused on themes of resilience and the expression of feelings, as well as creative workshops supervised by art therapists, provide an opportunity for project participants to break through the isolation and veil of silence too often surrounding suicide. This project involved a collective of individuals from various different communities coming together to share, express, and explore the taboo subject of suicide. In breaking the silence, these participants united in using the arts to express suffering but also to celebrate resilience, strength, and hope.

Sharing the Museum – Sharing the Douglas is an art therapy program designed for people with eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia).
Once every six weeks for six months, participants come for an encounter with art and take part in a creative workshop. In the safe and affirmative setting of the Museum, they can break through their isolation, develop a feeling of belonging within their community, and build a positive body image. The program explores the challenges and best practices of working with people undergoing treatment for eating disorders.