London Arts & Health

LAH Publications

UNDERSTANDING CREATIVE HEALTH IN LONDON: THE SCALE, CHARACTER AND MATURITY OF THE SECTOR

In London, the idea that creativity, culture and heritage can improve our health and wellbeing is by no means new. In the 1730s, a young William Hogarth understood this beneficial relationship when he offered to paint biblical scenes on the walls of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Since then, creative health has developed steadily in the capital, gaining in momentum in the 20th century and moving beyond hospitals into other aspects of health and care, cultural venues, heritage sites and communities. For this research project, the Culture, Creative Industries and 24-hour London Unit at the Greater London Authority (GLA) asked us to consider how creative health in London has evolved and what the sector looks like now – where activities are happening, who is commissioning and delivering them, what kind of training, professional development and support are available for this work and whether it is possible to make a living from it.

This report presents our findings on the evolution, scale, character and maturity of the creative health sector in London, and it draws on the wisdom of many people working in the sector, including artists and facilitators. It concludes with a series of reflections and recommendations to the sector as a whole.

We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt and the Greater London Authority on this report, and it has been an incredible and intensely forensic piece of work, uncovering the breadth, depth and quality of the sector. Reports like this are vital to ensuring policy-makers, funders and Health systems understand how the sector functions, the commitment and enduring power of the workforce that drives it and also unfortunately the all too familiar precarious conditions we often find our members working in. The report calls for vital support for the Creative Health sector which we welcome as a roadmap to continue to build infrastructure for Creative Health in London.

Click below to enlarge and view both the timelines of the sector:

REFLECTIONS

The creative heath sector in London has deep roots, with new initiatives continuing to spring up.
A wide range of creative health activity is happening across London.
Creative health activities can be found in health and care settings, in the community, in cultural and heritage venues and at educational sites.
The creative health sector is making a significant contribution to the capital’s health, wellbeing and equity.
The sector is often quite disparate and would benefit from being better networked.
In the absence of statutory provision, the creative health sector is woefully underfunded.
Health and care commissioners remain reluctant to invest in the long-term potential of creative health.
Cuts to health and local authority budgets are having a devastating effect, with community organisations increasingly expected to ameliorate the effects of austerity.
Without additional resources or training, the sector is unable to conform to this expectation.
Lack of long-term funding disrupts continuity and denies participants a lifeline.
Lack of long-term funding deprives the creative health workforce of stability and room to innovate.
Workforce development is a priority, with clear demand expressed by practitioners for practical tips, training, mentoring, networking and peer support.
Evaluation and research need to be rigorous and shared more widely.
Diversification of the sector’s workforce and leadership is an urgent challenge.
Change needs to come from within, with organisations making people from deprived and diverse backgrounds feel welcome.

This report was commissioned by the GLA to London Arts and Health and Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt. The report was written by Rebecca Gordon- Nesbitt with additional research undertaken by London Arts and Health: Amalia Restrepo and Anna Woolf. Illustrations and animations were done by Rae Goddard.

Download the full report here.

UNDERSTANDING CREATIVE HEALTH IN LONDON: THE SCALE, CHARACTER AND MATURITY OF THE SECTOR

In London, the idea that creativity, culture and heritage can improve our health and wellbeing is by no means new. In the 1730s, a young William Hogarth understood this beneficial relationship when he offered to paint biblical scenes on the walls of St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Since then, creative health has developed steadily in the capital, gaining in momentum in the 20th century and moving beyond hospitals into other aspects of health and care, cultural venues, heritage sites and communities. For this research project, the Culture, Creative Industries and 24-hour London Unit at the Greater London Authority (GLA) asked us to consider how creative health in London has evolved and what the sector looks like now – where activities are happening, who is commissioning and delivering them, what kind of training, professional development and support are available for this work and whether it is possible to make a living from it.

This report presents our findings on the evolution, scale, character and maturity of the creative health sector in London, and it draws on the wisdom of many people working in the sector, including artists and facilitators. It concludes with a series of reflections and recommendations to the sector as a whole.

We are incredibly proud to have partnered with Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt and the Greater London Authority on this report, and it has been an incredible and intensely forensic piece of work, uncovering the breadth, depth and quality of the sector. Reports like this are vital to ensuring policy-makers, funders and Health systems understand how the sector functions, the commitment and enduring power of the workforce that drives it and also unfortunately the all too familiar precarious conditions we often find our members working in. The report calls for vital support for the Creative Health sector which we welcome as a roadmap to continue to build infrastructure for Creative Health in London.

Click below to enlarge and view both the timelines of the sector:

REFLECTIONS

The creative heath sector in London has deep roots, with new initiatives continuing to spring up.
A wide range of creative health activity is happening across London.
Creative health activities can be found in health and care settings, in the community, in cultural and heritage venues and at educational sites.
The creative health sector is making a significant contribution to the capital’s health, wellbeing and equity.
The sector is often quite disparate and would benefit from being better networked.
In the absence of statutory provision, the creative health sector is woefully underfunded.
Health and care commissioners remain reluctant to invest in the long-term potential of creative health.
Cuts to health and local authority budgets are having a devastating effect, with community organisations increasingly expected to ameliorate the effects of austerity.
Without additional resources or training, the sector is unable to conform to this expectation.
Lack of long-term funding disrupts continuity and denies participants a lifeline.
Lack of long-term funding deprives the creative health workforce of stability and room to innovate.
Workforce development is a priority, with clear demand expressed by practitioners for practical tips, training, mentoring, networking and peer support.
Evaluation and research need to be rigorous and shared more widely.
Diversification of the sector’s workforce and leadership is an urgent challenge.
Change needs to come from within, with organisations making people from deprived and diverse backgrounds feel welcome.

This report was commissioned by the GLA to London Arts and Health and Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt. The report was written by Rebecca Gordon- Nesbitt with additional research undertaken by London Arts and Health: Amalia Restrepo and Anna Woolf. Illustrations and animations were done by Rae Goddard.

Download the full report here.