Over the past few years, APH-researcher Barbara Groot-Sluijsmans (assistant professor, Health Sciences, VU Amsterdam) worked with more than 200 researchers, administrators, policy makers, health care workers, artists, teachers, experience experts and other stakeholders who participated in a broad Arts in Health Netherlands study. They wrote a white paper on this in which they outline how art can contribute to the transition in health care, what great and proven successful initiatives already exist and how the field can be further strengthened.
White paper Arts in health in the Netherlands: A national agenda
Arts in Health Netherlands has drawn up a white paper that shows that art has a valuable role to play in humanizing healthcare and making it future-proof. Research suggests that activities such as singing in a choir or visiting museums are not only enjoyable and inspiring but also have demonstrable health benefits.
Despite these findings, art is still used far too little in our healthcare. Arts in Health Netherlands advocates for the integration of art and creativity in healthcare institutions and communities to promote health and well-being.
There are wonderful initiatives and programs in the Netherlands that use art as care, but the field is far too fragmented. Kirsten Krans, Program Director for Arts in Health Netherlands, emphasizes the need to strengthen the field by joining forces and sharing a common vision for development of research, education and practice.
Ferdinand Lewis, Director of Science and Education for Arts in Health Netherlands, points to the current technology-oriented approach to healthcare. Lewis: “Art makes space for the human in us: when you are creative, your focus is no longer on being ill, but on what you can still do. Not that art directly heals, but it encourages individuals to cope in a different way with their diseases, provides a sense of comfort, and helps reduce feelings of loneliness and alienation. Art can also play a role in prevention by increasing well-being and strengthening social connection in communities.”
Call to action
The whitepaper is an intersectoral exploration of arts in health in the Netherlands and serves as a call to action, including an agenda and goals for the next 10 years. This white paper is intended for anyone interested in advancing the arts in health field.
Event: ‘Care Through Creativity’
On February 13, the white paper will be handed over to Barbara Goezinne, Director General of Curative Care at the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare & Sport; and Christianne Mattijssen, Director of Heritage and Arts at the Ministry of Education, Culture & Science.
On February 15, the white paper will be presented with, among others, Jet Bussemaker, who is Chair of the Council for Public Health & Society; Christopher Bailey, Arts in Health Health Lead for the World Health Organization; and officials from the ministries and Parliament.
On February 16, the 'Care Through Creativity' event will take place in the Grand Theatre in Groningen, where the white paper will be officially launched with a program of practical examples, as well as research from the Netherlands. International speakers such as the WHO’s Christopher Bailey and Culture Action Europe’s Kornelia Kiss will participate. At this event the whitepaper will also be officially presented to Tjeerd van Dekken, Provincial Executive of the Province of Groningen for art and culture as well as health, welfare and care.
Link to whitepaper: 'Arts in health in the Netherlands'.
More information
If you would like to receive the white paper Arts in health in the Netherlands: A national agenda, you can send an email to artsinhealth@rug.nl.
To register for Care Through Creativity (February 16), please visit www.artsinhealth.nl/launch.
For questions about the event, please contact Liza van Eijck, Project Assistant at Arts in Health Netherlands, 06 24436303, l.van.eijck@rug.nl.
Arts in Health Netherlands is made possible by: National Program Groningen, Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, University of Groningen.