Creativity and Wellbeing Week 2022

The Creativity and Wellbeing Week is back this year, between 16 - 22 May! This is a great time to promote and celebrate the benefits of creative activity to health and wellbeing.

Delivered by London Arts and Health in partnership with the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance, the 2022 edition of this festival focuses on the theme of ‘Get Creative, Get Outdoors', championing a range of events and activities, free or low-cost to join in with (both in-person and online). See what's on.

In addition to the festival's programme, we'd like to share some of our own assets (stories, research, opportunities and projects) that can inspire you to get creative and boost your wellbeing:

To read

Five Ways to Wellbeing: a short evidence-based guide on how to improve your wellbeing through creativity;
Can arts & crafts make us happy? blog by Kate Dewmartin, Founder of CraftCourses.com;
Creative Inspiration: a mix of ideas, projects and TV shows to help you get creative;
Coventry's Local Hero: meet the person who helps vulnerable men engage in creative activities.

To take part in

#CreativeNetwork - Wellbeing (30 May, 1pm - 2pm): free conversation session bringing together people interested in the link between creativity and wellbeing. The next session will focus on environmental responsibility.

To listen

Creative Lives On Air: listen to inspiring stories of people who use creativity to boost their wellbeing, broadcasted on several BBC Local Radio stations. Follow BBC Radio Sheffield's updates of next week too!
Act On: podcast series on creative wellbeing and mental health developed in partnership with Thrive LDN and BBC Radio London

From our friends

Digital Wellbeing Service via Age UK Leeds;
The courage to be kind: podcast series via Carnegie UK Trust;
Coping with depression and anxiety through crafts: Ella's story via Mind UK;
From Surviving to Thriving: Building a model for sustainable practice in creativity and mental health: report via Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance;
Age UK's Wellbeing Index;
Impact of creative & cultural activity during the pandemic on loneliness, isolation & wellbeing: report via Arts Council England.

Funding opportunities

Brent Cross Town Community Fund (Childs Hill, Golders Green, West Hendon and surrounding areas);
CDL Fund (for grassroots community groups in the borough of Stockport);
The Happiness Fund (UK-wide).

For more resources, stories and projects, simply type 'wellbeing' in our website's search field and you'll find a lot of assets, including local creative groups and organisations that actively run wellbeing programmes in their local community (also available to explore via our Creativity Map).