The Arts Council England commissioned UCL’s Social Biobehavioural Research Group to investigate the impacts of creativity and culture on the brain and the report findings provide a strong evidence base for social prescribing programmes.
… Engaging in creativity and culture is linked to positive wellbeing…
The Arts Council England writes:
We commissioned UCL’s Social Biobehavioural Research Group to investigate the impacts of creativity and culture on the brain….
The report offers extensive evidence that:
- Engaging in creativity and culture is linked to positive wellbeing, feeling connected, and motivation in people across a range of ages and locations.
- The mental wellbeing of people in highly deprived areas can benefit more from taking part in creative and cultural activities.
- By engaging with creativity and culture, relationships between parents and their children can be strengthened, while children can be more ready to start school, especially if they’re less economically advantaged.
- Taking part in creative activities can help reduce a range of ‘negative’ behaviours in teenagers, including criminal behaviour and substance use.
The report’s findings provide a strong evidence base for social prescribing programmes like our Thriving Communities Fund….
Subtitle: A literature review and new epidemiological analyses
Date: 18 August 2022
Author: Bone JK & Fancourt D. 2022. Arts Culture & the Brain: A literature review and new epidemiological analyses. London: Arts Council England.
