Over the past two decades there has been a significant increase in research into the effects of the arts on health and well-being. Indeed, in 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published the first report that synthesises the results of more than 3000 studies that have identified a major role for art and art therapy in the prevention and promotion of health, management and treatment of disease throughout life.
Nisha Sajnani, co-director of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab at the Steinhardt School at New York University (NYU) explains the proven impact of cultural activities on improving the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals. From aesthetic engagement, imagination, sensory activation, evocation of emotion and cognitive stimulation, creative activities possess multiple components that can trigger psychological, physiological, social and behavioural responses that themselves have a positive impact on health.