Healthcare often starts with the question, “What’s the matter with you?” Bringing the arts into care introduces another: “What matters to you?” The shift reflects a more holistic view of health—one the World Health Organization defines as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.” Across Canada, arts organizations and care providers are increasingly putting this philosophy into practice, exploring how creativity and community can expand the reach and impact of the health system.

https://canadacouncil.ca/spotlight/2026/02/rise-of-social-prescribing