Report “Culture for Health” now available in Polish

Since 2022, the CultureForHealth report has been available – the first such comprehensive study synthesizing existing research on the impact of arts and culture on health and well-being. The report was developed as part of the CultureForHealth project (2021–2023), co-funded by the European Commission and coordinated by Culture Action Europe together with partners from across Europe. A summary of the report is now available in four languages: Italian, French, German and – for the first time – Polish. The Polish version was prepared by the Municipal Culture Institute – Miasto Splotów in Bielsko-Biała as part of its membership in the European Culture and Health platform.

A holistic approach to health

The authors emphasize that health and well-being are the foundation of thriving societies, yet health policy in Europe has so far focused mainly on treating diseases. The summary highlights the need for a more ambitious, holistic approach that complements the biomedical model with health promotion, prevention, and efforts to reduce health inequalities. Culture – through participation in art, music, dance, or crafts – can become an important element of such a strategy.

The report identifies eight key challenges facing the European Union:

1. The need to focus more on health promotion and disease prevention;
2. The growing mental health crisis;
3. Supporting young people’s health and well-being;
4. Continuous changes in the labor market;
5. The ageing population;
6. The link between poor health and inequalities;
7. Promotion of active citizenship;
8. Mental health challenges among forcibly displaced people.

Scientific evidence on the impact of culture

The CultureForHealth team updated the 2019 World Health Organization evidence review and collected hundreds of scientific studies examining the links between culture and health. The analysis showed that participation in creative cultural activities supports good health, life satisfaction, and lowers levels of anxiety and depression. Active engagement in various creative activities, such as singing, dancing, creative writing, or theatre, can help people with mental health disorders reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation. Art also facilitates communication about health, increasing understanding of various conditions and supporting interactions between patients and medical staff.

The report notes that before the pandemic, mental health problems affected over 85 million EU citizens. The situation worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, and the war in Ukraine, which led to rising anxiety, depression, and burnout. In light of these data, harnessing the potential of culture to prevent mental health disorders and strengthen well-being becomes even more important.

Policy recommendations for Europe

The report stresses that unlocking the health benefits of culture requires coordinated action in four areas: dedicated strategic and financial support; building knowledge and awareness; training and knowledge exchange; and creating a platform for collaboration, research, and development in culture, health, and well-being. The authors recommend, among other things:

• Creating a European platform or knowledge center to support policy dialogue and exchange of experiences in culture, health, and well-being;
• Encouraging member states, regions, and cities to develop their own culture-for-health strategies and to provide adequate funding and staffing;
• Promoting cross-sector partnerships that ensure cultural activities are accessible to people of different ages and social backgrounds;
• Increasing investment in culture as a tool for health promotion and prevention, e.g. by funding activities with potential health benefits using combined culture and healthcare budgets.

Why is the Polish translation important?

Making the summary available in Polish is a step toward ensuring that the report’s findings reach policymakers, local governments, cultural institutions, and the health sector in our country. The authors emphasize that changing the approach requires long-term investment and cooperation across many sectors. The translation enables Polish institutions to benefit from the latest research and recommendations and encourages the development of local programs connecting culture and health. Thanks to the Polish version, we have the opportunity to bring European recommendations into national cultural and health policies, building a more resilient society.

The summary of the report “Culture for health. The contribution of culture to health and well-being. A report with evidence and policy recommendations for Europe” in Polish can be downloaded here:

Those interested in more details are encouraged to read the full report, available in English: https://www.cultureandhealth.eu/resources/the-culture-for-health-and-well-being-compendium-a-guide-for-practitioners/