Creativity for Healthier Lives 2023/24
The Annual Report of the Director of Public Health in East Sussex 2023 / 24 - Creativity for Healthier Lives.
Creativity is a fundamental aspect of humanity, and it is a pleasure to be able to focus on the essential role creativity has in supporting us all to be fulfilled, connected, healthy and expressive individuals. This report aims to be a key resource in making East Sussex a creative health county and highlights the creative health assets and organisations involved.
A lot of arts in health and care work happens at the grass roots level, in community-based organisations and programmes that address both the clinical and social determinants of health. It’s a great time to look in detail at creative health and the many contributions it makes at improving the health of our communities.
Health improvement projects and programmes that have featured creative health elements are not a new thing in the county. We have been making steady progress to establish East Sussex as a creative health county. We have done this with a wide range of partners, including those from the cultural, heritage, tourism, artistic and health and care sectors. When it comes to using creative health approaches we are slowly moving from ‘nice to have’ to ‘must do!’. There is a vast range of creative activities and opportunities across the county including the recent exhibition of the Turner Prize to Eastbourne and the Towner Eastbourne Gallery’s centenary.
This report builds on the Creativity and Health Evidence Review 2022 and The East Sussex Creative Health Position Paper - September 2023. It includes contributions from key national and local figures in the creative health sphere. This report sets out the benefits and evidence base for using creative health approaches across the life course.
Recommendations are included to show how creative health approaches contribute to the local economy and health improvement, enhancing individual and communal opportunities to engage in creative activities that bring joy, connection, and personal expression. Furthermore, the recommendations set out how we will work, without contributing additional financial resources, with new and existing partners. This will be through the strengthening of established structures to focus on creative health, connecting local partners, and weaving it into existing public health programmes. We shall also be building collaboration beyond the county using research and external funding opportunities to support our creative health ambitions.
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Annual Reports Wellbeing Arts and Culture LocalResource Date
September 2024