This April the ENCATC members and experts from other institutions or/and organizations interested on this topic has been invited to Paris by the organization Musique & Santé.

ENCATC was founded in 1992. It is a lively and expanding European platform encouraging
serious exchange of knowledge, methodologies, experiences, comparative research programmes
and regular assessment of the sector’s training needs in the broad field of cultural management
from a European point of view through a wide range of thematic areas, projects, activities and
events. Currently, ENCATC has a membership of over 100 education and training institutions
involved in education and training for the arts and cultural sectors and operates through 34
countries.

Musique & Santé was founded in 1998. It is a French non-profit organisation advocating and
working for the development of live music in hospitals and institutions for disabled persons in
France and Europe. Through actions, training sessions, research, and mediation, Musique &
Santé engages with everyone – whatever their age and culture. Professional musicians work in
healthcare units at the patients’ bedsides, in workshops, or organise ambulatory concerts. They
mobilize and train the care and medical staff as well as the families.

To enhance the contribution of art and culture to health and well-being is a very topical issue at
the moment. Art is discussed widely in its various social contexts, for social and community
purposes – outside the traditional art institutions. This is a growing sector in meaning-intensive
production and creative economy with beneficial cultural, social, employment and economic
results. There is a demand for multi-skilled persons. The forms and methods of arts based
practices in this context need to be studied further. Additionally, so does the production process
of art services for rehabilitation and for social and recreational purposes.

Firstly, there is the topic of the reception of art. There are several studies indicative of cultural
consumption and cultural pursuits having a positive effect on health. Participation in arts activities
creates a sense of community and networks which support life management and add social
capital. Arts can add social interaction, involvement and empowerment. Secondly, there is the
topic of production of art services. For a longer time now, artists and arts organizations have been
getting involved in various arts activities in care units, but still there are challenges to be solved.
What kind of challenges this means for cultural training institutes and cultural managers, will be
discussed in Paris. The meaning of the meeting is to clarify the concept, the targets and the
methodology of the Working Group. Also the calendar for future activities will be set up.

This new ENCATC Thematic Area is meant to advance this important topic by:
• discussing, analyzing and exchanging ideas, working methods and reflections on arts
and health
• exchanging information, academic and working knowledge and to contribute to the
development of the collaboration between universities, expert organizations and
practitioners
• fingind methods to integrate the cultural sector into social and health care sector, and
to promote culture and arts in the context and to provide useful and relevant
information to actors in the sectors
• studing relevant European examples and theoretical approaches on the subject and to
find good examples and best practices between cultural sector and social/health care
sector

Please note that the travel and accommodation costs for attending this meeting will not be
reimbursed by ENCATC. The working language will be English.

A fee of 25 euro per person will be charged to participants who are not member of ENCATC or
Musique & Santé .

Please note that travel and accommodation costs, lunches, and dinners are at your own
expenses.