UK Timeline 2017

A falls prevention programme: Evaluation of the pilot project

An evaluation of a dance pilot programme which included bridge-building between the worlds of dance and older people’s exercise, training of dance artists, six evidence-based falls prevention programmes with 196 participants, sharing/celebration events and an evaluation programme.

A summary of Age UK’s index of wellbeing in later life

An AGE UK Index of Wellbeing in Later Life, which aims to support evidence-informed advocacy and policymaking, with coherent and person-centred quantitative intelligence.

Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing

This project develops the research findings from the 2013 pilot of the Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing project undertaken by the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) contributing to and enhancing the research base in relation to dance for older adults.

Singing for Better Breathing: Findings from the Lambeth and Southwark Singing and COPD Project

The final report of a study evaluating a network of six community singing groups for people with COPD in the London boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark.

Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing

Dance to Health An evaluation of health, social and artistic outcomes of a dance programme for the prevention of falls

This report provides the findings of an evaluation of social, artistic (creative), health and wellbeing elements of a specifically designed falls prevention programme: Dance to Health (DtH). The programme integrates two evidence-based exercise programmes, Falls Management Exercise (FaME) and Otago, with creative dan...

Wiltshire Artlift Move on Groups Evaluation Final Report

This report presents the findings of the Artlift Wiltshire Move on Groups (MoG) evaluation conducted by the University of Gloucestershire between March 2016 and March 2017.

Reawakening Integrated: Arts & Heritage

Reawakening Integrated reports on the first year of a three-year academic partnership programme, based in Dorset, to integrate artistic stimulation into NHS England’s Well Pathway for Dementia.

This feasibility study explores a framework to  consolidate the contribution that the arts can make to p...

Ageing in public: creative practice in ageing and the public realm from across the UK

In 2014 Cubitt was commissioned by the Baring Foundation to produce a publication and conference on the theme of our Public Wisdom programme: exploring ageing, creativity and the public realm.

Culture Health & Wellbeing: conference report

The report on the Culture, Health and Wellbeing International Conference 2017 which took place in Bristol in June 2017, bringing together 453 speakers and delegates from 23 countries.

The conference themes were wide ranging and included: reducing inequalities; promoting resilience, prevention and early interv...

Carers Create 2015-2017: Report on Activities and Evaluation of Effect

A report on the effects of the Carers Create two-year creative arts project for carers of people with dementia and their cared-for relatives. Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data showed positive benefit to physical, mental, social and cognitive health and wellbeing of part...

Museums on Prescription: A guide to working with older people

The recommendations in this guide result from the Museums on Prescription (2014 – 2017) project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and carried out by researchers at University College London and Canterbury Christ Church University. The guide covers planning, development, facilitation and participa...

Aesop: Annual Review 2015-16

This is the Annual Review of Aesop’s first full year of activities during 2015-16. Aesop: Arts Enterprise with a Social Purpose, is a practical organisation that runs programmes and networks to help create and grow thriving markets for arts programmes in other sectors, starting with health.

The Barometer of My Heart: Visual matrix research and evaluation project

This report is the outcome of an in-depth study of audience reception of The Barometer of My Heart, an exploration through visual art and performance of men’s experiences of erectile dysfunction and impotence, undertaken by the  Psychosocial Research Unit at the University of Central Lancashire.

The role of local authorities in creative ageing

How a focus on the arts for older people can enhance local authorities’ delivery and effectiveness, often without huge financial resources.

Magic Me’s Artists Residencies in Care Homes

Arts and Communities Programme report

This report showcases the progress and achievements of the activity which has been delivered through the Arts and Communities programme and to consider the learning from the different approaches to programme delivery in each locality – an initiative by Arts Council England and the Department for Communities an...

Making sense of Social Prescribing

This guide has been co-produced by people with practical experiences of designing, commissioning, delivering, and evaluating social prescribing schemes. The guide aims to support commissioners to understand what a good social prescribing scheme looks like.

The best words, in the best order: A toolkit for making poems in dementia care settings

This toolkit  is designed to support poets, care staff or anyone interested in running a poetry project in dementia care settings. It is an accessible, concise yet comprehensive guide covering both working one to one and working with groups and has links to a range of other useful online resources.

Dance Magic Dance: A toolkit for creative dance in residential care settings

This toolkit is a practical guide aimed to help those working with older people in residential care settings to develop creative dance activities with their residents.

Experiences of Being Report: The benefit of drama, music and dancing in improving the wellbeing of older people in care homes

This report examines the benefits of using drama and creative techniques with older people, including those with dementia, in care homes.

ImagineNation: The value of cultural learning

This publication focuses on the four values of Cultural Learning: Social; Educational; Economic; and Personal.

The Health Benefits of Knitting

This report examines the health benefits of knitting, especially for the elderly, and the opportunities it offers for volunteering.

Culture and Wellbeing: Theory, Methodology, Stories and Other Challenges – an Itinerary

This report charts the development of a project led by Culture Action Europe between 2014 and 2017, the aim of which was to assess the impact of culture on people’s wellbeing, including direct experience of cultural practitioners and organisations and that of their public. The goal of the project is that cultural ...

Investigating the Efficacy of Art and Music Therapy with Vulnerable Children and Young People: A Systematic Review

This systematic review, commissioned by the Pears Foundation, evaluates the existing quantitative evidence base on the impact of art and music therapy with vulnerable children and young people. The review discusses vulnerability in relation to five broad subject areas: adoption, attachment and parent-child bonding, ...

Collective Encounter – Children & Young People. Summary 2010-2017

This summary report gives an overview of Collective Encounters’ Youth Theatre and Youth Outreach programmes, between 2010 and 2017. These two programmes are evaluated annually against the following aims: to improve the skills and capacities of vulnerable, disadvantaged and looked after young people; to empower you...

Parliamentary debate: Effect of the arts on health debate pack

This Debate Pack relates to the debate at Westminster Hall on the Effect of the arts on health, which took place on Wednesday 11th October 2017 at 4.30pm, led by Edward Vaizey MP. It includes an overview of the issue being debated, listing the 10 recommendations of the APPG inquiry report, “Creative Health: The Ar...

Music in Healthcare Evidence Review

This evidence review examines the benefits of music in healthcare settings and was put together by Youth Music. It includes a short exploration of available literature, followed by analysis of evaluation reports and case studies submitted to Youth Music from their funded projects in which music-making is offered to ...

Treating mental health in the community: A policy review. Understanding the interventions and quality of evidence in the community mental health sector

This paper reviews the quality of evidence available on the effectiveness of different community approaches to mental health. It looks at 48 reviews covering 827 primary experimental and non-experimental studies, published between 2004 and 2017, drawn from the UK and comparable high-income countries. The paper looks...

Learning About Culture: Programme Prospectus

Learning About Culture sets out the programme for a two-and-a-half year investigation into the role that cultural learning plays in improving educational outcomes for children. The programme’s two key aims are to build a stronger evidence base for cultural learning and to improve the use of evidence in cultural le...

Rethinking Relationship: Inquiry into the civic role of arts organisations. Phase 1 Report

The Inquiry into the Civic Role of Arts Organisations was launched in 2016 by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (CGF) UK Branch. It seeks to increase awareness of the civic role that arts organisations play, and could play, nationally and locally, and to define and share ‘next practice’.

This report marks th...

Towards cultural democracy: Promoting cultural capabilities for everyone

This report presents an exciting vision for an alternative way of thinking about, and building, a vibrant shared culture that is meaningful and valuable for everyone. Building on a 15-month research project it makes the case for cultural democracy, specifically in terms of promoting everyone’s cultural capability ...

Older Women Rock!

This document reports on the first ever “Older Women Rock!” Festival which took place in key venues in Folkestone over the course of one month in early 2017. The collaborative event, involving local community artists and residents, was produced by spoken word poet, Leah Thorn. It celebrated “early old age” w...

Action on Loneliness in Care Homes

Report on  “Action on Loneliness in care homes: an intergenerational project” commissioned by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Public Health team  run by Magic Me between October 2015 and October 2016.

Dementia and Imagination. Research Informed Approaches to Visual Arts Programmes

This handbook is intended to be used by artists and other people who plan to deliver arts-based activities with people who are living with dementia.

A review of the evidence assessing impact of social prescribing on healthcare demand and cost implications

A review of the evidence assessing impact of social prescribing on healthcare demand and cost implications by the University of Westminster, incorporating research from a Wellcome Trust funded seed award: ‘Investigating the provision and conceptualisation of Social Prescribing approaches to health creation’....

Steps towards implementing self-care: A resource for local commissioners

This is a practical and easily accessible guide to implementing self-care, with a focus on social prescribing. Published by Healthy London Partnership, it aims to support clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to work closely with appropriate local partners to increase the number of people who care for themselves ...

Beyond Words Project Report

This report presents a detailed account of existing literature on the post-verbal and arts and wellbeing, with a particular focus on music. It explores the data using a post- human approach and post-human conceptual tools. The research builds on previous joint projects to focus on how those who face problems communi...

Sport, dance and young people: A systematic review of sport and dance participation in healthy young people (15-24 years) to promote subjective wellbeing

This systematic review by the What Works for Wellbeing Centre sought to address the question: What are the wellbeing outcomes of participation in sport and dance for healthy young people (15-24 years) and what are the processes by which wellbeing outcomes are achieved?

Arts Council England Youth Consultation

This report presents the findings of research carried out by Sound Connections, who were commissioned by Arts Council England (ACE) to facilitate consultation with 7 to 25 year olds across the country, working with groups in schools and community settings.
Topics included:
• How do young people perceiv...

The art of the possible

This guide is for commissioners of health and wellbeing who may not, as yet, have partnered with arts and cultural organisations. It highlights partnerships between health and wellbeing bodies and the arts and cultural sector which are delivering better outcomes.

Evaluation of the House of Memories Family Carers Awareness Day

House of Memories is a dementia awareness programme led by National Museums Liverpool designed to support carers to support family, non-professional and professional carers’ physical and mental well-being while they care for an individual.

A Study into the Incidence of Musicians’ Mental Health Part 2: Qualitative Study and Recommendations

This report documents the findings from the second part of Help Musicians UK’s study exploring the perceived affects of working in the music industry on mental health, focusing on recommendations.

Late opening: Arts and older people in Scotland

Late Opening was commissioned by Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing
organisation and the Baring Foundation. It seeks to summarise the remarkable range of creative ageing projects across Scotland and asks what needs to be done to help this activity continue to thrive.

Creating artists in residents: a national arts in care homes participatory and mentoring programme

Evaluation of Age Cymru’s highly successful cARTrefu programme which organised residencies for professional artists in care homes across Wales.

Towards the end

A report explaining why the Baring Foundation has been funding arts for older people and what they have funded in the first eight years of grant making (2010-2017).

Dutch old masters – and mistresses: creative ageing in the Netherlands

An overview of participatory arts for older people in the Netherlands, with inspiring examples from across art forms.

The Lullaby Project: Areas of Change and Mechanisms of Impact

This report focuses on two pilot experiences of the Lullaby Project which pairs expectant and new parents with professional musicians to create a lullaby for their children – specifically refugee and migrant mothers at Praxis Community Projects (an East London charity) and fathers at Wandsworth prison in Londo...

Evaluation of the Rotherham Mental Health Social Prescribing Service 2015/16-2016/17

This report provides updated findings of an independent evaluation of the Rotherham Social Prescribing Mental Health Service undertaken by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) at Sheffield Hallam University.

What can arts and culture do for health inequalities? Developing a Culture Strategy for Scotland

Creative ageing in Germany: a view from North Rhine-Westphalia

A collection of creative ageing projects from across the arts in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.