A series of innovative arts and health projects run across Wales during the height of the pandemic have sparked recommendations this Creativity and Wellbeing Week (16 - 22 May) for how art can take a leading role in creating ‘A Healthier Wales’.
Singing for dementia, creative writing to support addiction recovery and arts sessions for mental health inpatients were among 13 projects funded and supported by HARP (Health, Arts, Research, People) - a research and innovation partnership between the Arts Council of Wales, Cardiff University’s Y Lab and innovation foundation Nesta. All of the projects were collaborations between artists, community-based health and care organisations, local authorities and/or local health boards.