Creative Health

Engagement in the arts allows people a space for self-expression, improves social skills and confidence, builds creative and innovative thinking, and reduces isolation and loneliness. Artists and the arts help Northern Ireland stay well, contributing to our sense of community, delivering better mental health outcomes for participants and audiences alike.

Arts and health partnerships create healthier people and healthier communities.

The Arts and Older People Programme supports organisations in the delivery of high-quality participatory arts activities for older people. Evaluation revealed that participation had ‘created very significant changes. These changes include alleviation of the social isolation and loneliness for people with dementia and others experiencing bereavement, restoring personhood to people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia’. (Lynch, 2025)

The Creative Schools Partnership connects schools from areas of high need with professional artists to introduce more creativity into the classroom and improve all round learning. Over half of participants said their school’s project had ‘made them feel happier at school with over a third of respondents stating that the programme had ‘made learning more memorable’. (AJ Associates, 2023)

Through the Arts Council’s National Lottery Young People & Wellbeing Programme, 92% of young people agreed taking part had ‘improved how I feel about myself’, (RF Associates, 2025)

We continue with the roll-out of the Arts and Mental Health programme, supporting artists to facilitate Creative Health projects.

£8bn

per year estimated total benefit on health, well-being and productivity due to culture & heritage*

£1,000

worth of quality-of-life gains per person each year as a result of regular engagement with culture and heritage*

42%

of older adults had a reduced risk of developing dementia as a result of taking part in community cultural engagement**

Case Study: Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s National Lottery Arts and Older People Programme - A Tapestry of Time

A Tapestry of Time brings older people from west Belfast together to improve their health and wellbeing through storytelling and creative activities. The project, led by a team of professional artists including National Lottery funded Off The Rails Dance, uses visual arts, textiles, poetry, photography, movement and soundscapes to create a public art installation.

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