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Description of initiative
Turku was the first European Capital of Culture to highlight links between art and health. Well-being was at the heart of Turku's year as European Capital of Culture. Health, science and culture were intertwined during the title year with elderly people encouraged to participate in cultural activities, accessibility improved and shows focused on healthy living. In an innovative strategy, doctors were given the licence to hand out 'cultural prescriptions' as part of their treatment of patients.
According to the Capital's programme publication, culture is an important part of the activities promoting well-being and health. Turku has been a forerunner in research on the health benefits of physical activity as well as in the implementation of the results. Turku also wants to lead the way as a city that promotes the health effects of culture. Well-being and quality of life form one of the three strategic areas of focus for the City of Turku. Promotion of the health of the local residents is one of the critical success factors in implementing this. The activities must primarily focus on the preventive activities rather than treating the problems that appear.
Although the health benefits achieved through culture can only be seen over time and pointing out causality is difficult, investing in cultural services is an economical way of promoting well-being. As the Capital of Culture, Turku coordinates an extensive project unit combining the arts, culture and well-being including research, international cooperation, learning from European experiences, the development of applied practical projects and services as well as distributing new information and experiences. Turku belongs to the European Healthy Cities Network of the World Health Organisation in which well-being is seen as a central part of the development of cities.
Themes: Culture and...
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Cultural field
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Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
Turku’s image as a European culture city increased. Turku’s culture life is now garnering more interest than before, everywhere in Finland. The ‘Culture does good’ operations that spread over to the city’s public premises and encouraged participation improved the citizens’ image of their home city and themselves, as well as the image that other Finns have of Turku. Activities carried out, including in connection to health are available on website.
Relevant results or lessons from the ”Final report of the Turku 2011 Foundation about the realisation of the Capital of Culture year”:
- About one third of all programme projects implemented the co-operation of culture and well-being in different ways. In the Capital of Culture process of Turku, new multidisciplinary operational models of culture were created between wellbeing, health and arts, along with the development and study of well-being projects.
- Cultural Prescription activity was developed as part of the “Culture does good” communication concept. Prescriptions were handed out at Turku health centres especially to such customers who had physical or financial challenges and to persons who were considered to gain added value related to integration, or relief in their loneliness from participating in cultural events. 70 health centre physicians distributed in all 650 prescriptions. The cultural prescriptions were noted in international media in particular, where they were regarded as unusual, innovative and interesting ways to approach culture, health and well-being.