The Memorandum of Understanding aims to promote the benefits that the arts can bring to the population’s well-being and to creating a more equal, cultural and sustainable Wales.
It’s well known that participating in creative activities can have a very positive impact on a person’s physical and mental wellbeing. Arts can help patients to maintain good mental and physical health helping to reduce demand on NHS services.
Across Wales, fantastic arts and health partnerships are already in place: National Dance Company Wales providing unique creative therapy for South Wales Parkinson's patients; the Stroke Association and Head4Arts organises Strike a Chord Choirs - singing groups for stroke survivors; and the Denbighshire Arts Services’ award-winning visual arts project - Lost in Art - is for people living with dementia and their carers, are some examples.
Phil George, Chair of Arts Council of Wales said:
"There is growing and resilient evidence for arts participation benefitting mental health, wellbeing and recovery from physical illness. This Memorandum will allow us to promote these benefits to the Welsh public and to policy makers."
Andrew Davies, Chair of Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board and the Welsh NHS Confederation Policy Committee said:
"Across the NHS our members are actively promoting the benefits of the arts to the health and well-being of people, and already the NHS is supporting a wide range of initiatives across the country. Working together for the first time, our two organisations will further raise awareness of arts initiatives, support the advancement of good practice and help to increase public recognition of the health and well-being benefits of being creatively active"