Culture and Health - Time to Act
The European Union (EU) Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026 starts by acknowledging that ‘culture is an infinite source of inspiration and innovation, a reflection of humanity and aesthetics, our shared language and heritage, and a fundamental part of our identities and communities’. Mandated by the Work Plan, the Open Method for Coordination Group for Culture and Health began its work in February 2024. Its remit was to recommend how the EU should respond to the international evidence that participation in cultural and creative activities and culture-based interventions supports better health outcomes and improved well-being. There is a growing body of research showing that participation (both receptive and active) in activities such as the visual arts, music, singing, dancing, writing, drama, heritage, craftwork, etc. across the life course is a positive health behaviour. Culture and health activities have been demonstrated to be beneficial for health promotion, disease prevention, management and treatment of health conditions (including physical and mental health), and social inclusion and cohesion. We remain mindful that, while culture is instrumental, it must never be instrumentalised. Therefore, the task of this OMC has been to recommend strategic actions that can unlock the potential of culture and health across the EU. As the Group was preparing this report, it has become clear just how timely its work is and the huge opportunity there is in acting now. Against a rapidly evolving policy landscape, the intersectoral field of culture and health is poised to make a transformative contribution to key EU policy priorities.
Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, Culture and health – Time to act, Publications Office of the European Union, 2025, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/0432398
