Summary
On 14-15 November 2024 Bielsko-Biała in Poland in cooperation with Culture Action Europe, leader of the Culture and Health platform, will be hosting a two full day conference to examine the potential for culture to support the health and wellbeing of people. Evidence shows that culture and artistic activities contribute to our social, physical and mental health and well-being.
The conference aims to raise awareness about these health benefits and the cost-effectiveness of a comprehensive, inclusive approach to health and social policy across the EU. It will focus on implementation methods in Central-Eastern Europe, using both European and local examples. Through presentations, panels, workshops, and cultural activities, participants will explore evidence-based practices and arts participation as a key health behavior. Attendees will include policy makers and experts from the cultural, health, and social sectors. The conference will also celebrate the launch of the Culture and Health platform supported by the European Union.
The conference will focus on the following topics:
- showcasing the evidence regarding the health and well-being benefits of cultural activities
- culture and forcibly displaced people
- culture and youth mental health
- caring for the helpers (e.g. rescue teams) and carers (medical staff and artists)
Participation in the conference is free, but registration is required.
For whom is the conference?
Artists and cultural practitioners: artists, curators, and cultural facilitators interested in how their work impacts health and well-being.
Healthcare professionals: medical staff, therapists, psychologists, and others working in health who are interested in the benefits of cultural activities on physical and mental health, including for youth and displaced populations.
Researchers and academics: scholars focused on health, cultural studies, psychology, and public policy who are researching the link between culture, health, and well-being.
Social workers and carers: individuals who work directly with displaced people, youth, and other vulnerable populations, as well as those involved in mental health or humanitarian aid, who may benefit from the discussions on caring for those providing care (e.g., medical teams, rescue workers, artists).
Policy makers and public officials: decision-makers at both local and EU levels responsible for cultural and health policies who would be interested in new evidence and case studies from Poland and the EU.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international bodies: organizations working in the intersection of culture, health, and wellbeing, especially in the context of displacement, mental health, and support for carers.
Youth workers and educators: those working directly with youth, particularly around mental health and cultural engagement, may find this conference beneficial for learning new strategies and insights.
Background
Arts can contribute in both preventing illnesses and promoting healthy behaviours as well as helping in the management and treatment of illnesses, as outlined by the WHO 2019 report “What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being?”and the “CultureForHealth Report: Culture’s contribution to health and well-being, A report on evidence and policy recommendations for Europe”.
EU Member States have decided to include in the Council Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026 the topic of “Culture and Health” as one of the areas jointly addressed through the “Open Method of Coordination (OMC)”. The “Culture and Health” OMC group, which comprises representatives from both the Ministries of Culture and the Ministries of Health from interested Member States started its work in February 2024.
This process is underpinned by the 2023 EU documents on the ‘Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health’ which explicitly refers to the role of culture (see the European Commission's communication, as well as the answer to it by all EU Member States: the EU Council Conclusions on the Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health.).