Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region

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Arts on prescription is a concept to improve mental well-being by prescribing arts activities in group settings rather than medicine or therapy for people with diagnosed mental conditions or those at risk of developing them. The project “Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region” aims to develop a model programme based on evidence and experience, adaptable to different local conditions and public health systems.

The challenge for public authorities implementing such programmes lies in underdeveloped cooperation between culture and health sectors, lack of knowledge on organization and evaluation, and lack of long-term financing. The partners will jointly develop a model programme that will be piloted by local and regional public authorities in cooperation with cultural institutions and evaluated for health effects, organizational setup, and economic benefits.

The model will then be transferred to other cities and regions through an online practitioner’s guide and a rent-an-expert programme. Additionally, the project will initiate dialogue with national authorities and health insurance funds to improve structural support and financing options for arts on prescription programmes.

“Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region” project deliverables:

1. Development of a model Arts on Prescription program adaptable to different local contexts and health systems across the Baltic Sea Region

2. Creation of a comprehensive practitioner’s guide containing practical tools, methodologies, and evidence-based approaches for implementing arts-based health interventions

3. Establishment of a transnational community of practice spanning health and cultural sectors

4. Economic evaluation demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of Arts on Prescription compared to traditional approaches

5. At least 6 successful pilot implementations in participating regions with documented health benefits for participants

6. Knowledge transfer to approximately 12-18 additional cities/regions beyond the initial partnership through twinning arrangements and training

7. Creation of a “rent-an-expert” program to provide ongoing support for cities implementing Arts on Prescription programs

8. Increased regional and national dialogue on sustainable financing models for Arts on Prescription programs

9. Policy recommendations for national health authorities on integrating arts-based approaches into health and social care systems 10. Long-term institutionalization of Arts on Prescription in the partner regions beyond the project lifetime

PROJECT PARTNERS

• Ministry for health, women and consumer Protection of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen,
• Bremer Volkshochschule – adult education centre/Ministry for Culture,
• University of Southern Denmark,
• Cesis Municipality,
• Saldus district municipality,
• Westpomeranian Region,
• Media Dizajn,
• Secretariat of the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being,
• Sunderby folk high school,
• Norrbotten Region,
• Turku University of Applied Sciences.