Art Helps the Health of the Nation

Everyone knows that art offers rewarding experiences, but did you know that getting involved in the arts can actually be good for your health? That’s the clear message behind Arts Care’s ‘Dreams’ art and health project. To celebrate the completion of this significant research project, funded by the Arts Council, an exhibition and evaluation report were launched this morning (Monday 5 th June) at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

Group photo at launch of ‘Dreams’ art and health project at Waterfront Hall on Monday 5th June. L-R: Dr Tim Wyatt (Arts Care Chair), Chris Ledger (Arts Council Arts and Healthcare Officer), Alan Diver (Arts Care Graphic Designer), Lorna Hastings ( Arts Care Director), Beverley Healy (Dreams Project Co-ordinator, Arts Care at the Mater), Noirin McKinney (Arts Council Director of Arts Development).

The Dreams exhibition - open to the public until 30 th June - features a selection of original prints created during the three-year project by patients, staff and community groups associated with the Mater Hospital in Belfast. A team of experienced medical and arts professionals oversaw the project, which included art workshops with the Mater Hospital’s Artists in Residence, Beverley Healy and Patricia Lavery and local printmaker, Anushiya Sundaralingham.

'Dreams'

An evaluation of the art workshops, carried out by Community Evaluation Northern Ireland (CENI) brought to light some useful findings. For instance, 95% of those taking part reported that they found the art workshops very enjoyable and that they “helped break up the boredom”, as one participant said. However, it is with the alleviation of stress and symptoms that the arts activities showed the most interesting results. 95% said that the workshops had helped make them feel at ease and relaxed, that they had been “good for lifting your mind from other things”, and 48% went so far as to say that their pain and symptoms were actually relieved. 90% reported improvement in mood, and 93% of medical and surgical patients experienced increased levels of happiness or contentment due to their participation in the art activities.

Lorna Hastings, Director of Arts Care said at today’s launch that, “over the years we have observed the benefits, on many levels, of arts activities on health and we are delighted that the Dreams evaluation project has backed up these observations”.

Noirin McKinney , Arts Development Director at the Arts Council, which was the principal funder of the Dreams art and health project, said, “There has always been plenty of anecdotal evidence to indicate the benefits of art activities on mental, emotional and physical well-being, such as a reduction of anxiety and building of confidence. However, this important research project now offers us direct evidence, supported by medical professionals, of measurable ways in which art contributes to improving health, and reinforces the value of embedding the arts in healthcare settings.”