There is growing evidence that reading, drawing, singing, playing music or any other artistic activity can improve our physical and mental wellbeing. It makes us happier and healthier, can reduce feelings of isolation and combat loneliness.
We set out to explore the links between arts, culture and social prescribing; with the aim of identifying best practice and understanding what the Mayor of London could do to support future ‘cultural social prescribing’ projects.
What we did
At the centre of the research was the ambition to place health and wellbeing at the heart of London Borough of Culture programmes and upcoming years and future bids. We commissioned an independent report to explore the social prescribing activity taking place in four boroughs linked with London Borough of Culture.
Nikki Crane Associates carried out their research between March and July 2020 and captured activity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over twenty people across four boroughs (Barking & Dagenham, Camden, Lewisham and Waltham Forest) were consulted, including culture team members, social prescribing link workers, health and social care colleagues as well as voluntary community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) organisations.
We also spoke to regional and national arts and health colleagues at organisations including Arts Council England, London Arts and Health and the London Social Prescribing Network.
Some key themes and recommendations emerged from the report, which are set out below.
What we found out
A rich variety of arts and cultural social prescribing is happening in all four boroughs. However, a large part of the success is down to key individuals or champions in each borough.
There is a need for greater connectivity and coordination between the culture, health and care sectors so that link workers and health professionals know what cultural activity is available.
The London Borough of Culture programme has had a positive impact on social prescribing by raising the profile of culture and bringing people together from different sectors, services and organisations.
We’ve seen in the response to COVID-19 how arts and culture can engage vulnerable and isolated people, improve wellbeing, connect communities and support health professionals at a time of extreme pressure.
Strong leadership is crucial from both local authorities and the local health system, as well as champions within services, who need the proper tools, connections and evidence base.
Challenges include
- Lack of familiarity with social prescribing and the benefits of cultural activity for health and wellbeing
- Lack of knowledge about how to reach cultural organisations (especially smaller, grassroots organisations) that deliver social prescribing; the level of information varies greatly between boroughs
- Digital exclusion – ensuring those who are not digitally connected remain active and engaged
- Training and resources needed to understand digital technologies and platforms
- Lack of funding for voluntary, community and social enterprise sector
Recommendations
- Create an interactive map of culture and social prescribing activity – dynamic and crowd-sourced to encourage collaborative working
- Training for voluntary and community organisations, volunteers, GPs, link workers, facilitators and artists to learn more about culture and social prescribing
- Embed culture and social prescribing into existing work – including linking with emerging community hubs and building on wave of community engagement since outbreak of COVID-19
- A high-profile culture and social prescribing event to raise awareness share best practice
- Develop a cultural social prescribing champions network to provide peer support and facilitate connections
- Consider a flagship culture and social prescribing programme in conjunction with London Borough of Culture to raise the profile
What's next
Check out the Arts & Culture Social Prescribing Myth Buster and find out about the Dementia Friendly Venues Charter.