Journal article
Developing roadmaps for advancing practice, research, and policy in the arts and health
The Lancet (British edition), v 408(10563), pp 1499-1517
21 Sep 2026
PMID: 42767256
Abstract
Despite arts engagement being a ubiquitous human behaviour across human history, research and awareness on the health benefits of engagement are still emerging, accelerating over the past decade. Building on the evidence and research challenges outlined in the first paper of this Lancet collection, this Review puts forward a series of roadmaps for advancing research, policy, and practice to enable appropriate and effective integration of the arts into health and wellbeing systems globally. First and foremost, we advocate for the fundamental principle that all individuals, regardless of their characteristics and location, should have regular opportunities to engage in the arts, proposing policy and research steps to monitor and achieve this goal. Second, we emphasise the importance of implementing population-level strategies that use the arts as part of broader portfolios of approaches to help address the fundamental determinants of health inequities. Third, we underscore the necessity of developing and embedding across society diverse public-health pathways that connect individuals living with or at risk of health challenges to the arts within communities. Fourth, we argue for more clinical innovation in integrating bespoke evidence-based arts and creative arts therapies programmes into clinical care across the care pathway. Finally, we stress the crucial need for enhanced cross-sectoral stakeholder engagement and more strategic investment and research to facilitate the development and dissemination of the necessary tools, training, and evidence to achieve these objectives.
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Details
- Title
- Developing roadmaps for advancing practice, research, and policy in the arts and health
- Creators
- Daisy Fancourt - University College LondonJoke Bradt - Drexel UniversityNils Fietje - World Health Organization Regional Office for EuropeMichael Koon Boon Tan - Nanyang Academy of Fine ArtsDominic Campbell - Trinity College DublinAgustin Ibanez - Trinity College DublinJill Sonke - University of FloridaVikram Patel - Harvard UniversitySharifa Abdulla - University of GlasgowHei Wan Mak - University College LondonNisha Sajnani - New York University
- Publication Details
- The Lancet (British edition), v 408(10563), pp 1499-1517
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 19
- Grant note
- R01 AG057234 / NIA NIH HHS R01 AG083799 / NIA NIH HHS R01 AG075775 / NIA NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Creative Arts Therapies
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001900466900001
- Other Identifier
- 991022232714304721