How the arts are changing the way we understand health and mental well being

What do the arts have to do with our health? It’s not a huge leap to associate a gallery visit with a stimulating, even relaxing, sensation. We see some great art pieces, usually in the company of friends and on the way out, a quick shop at the exhibition store for a memento, followed by a refreshing lunch or coffee. By any comparison this is a lovely social day out.

But is there more we can attribute to this enjoyable activity? Participating in the arts through dancing, drawing, painting, performing and more broadly craft making, are being understood as an essential part of our well being and health.

The following provides two FREE resources:

The first is a curated article that documents the growing scientific research underway to quantify the mental and physical health benefits these art and craft based activities can provide, and why doing rather than just viewing, points to why we all need to take a dose of daily art.

The second is a 20 minute video and summary transcript that explores how engaging in creative activities has been attributed to improving rates of depression, reducing the body's response to stress, assisting with cognitive decline and boosting the immune system, as well as increasing happiness.