Over the past two decades, there has been a major increase in research into the effects of the arts on health and well-being, alongside developments in practice and policy activities in different countries across the WHO European Region and further afield. This report synthesizes the global evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being, with a specific focus on the WHO European Region. Results from over 3000 studies identified a major role for the arts in the prevention of ill health, promotion of health, and management and treatment of illness across the lifespan. The reviewed evidence included study designs such as uncontrolled pilot studies, case studies, small-scale cross-sectional surveys, nationally representative longitudinal cohort studies, community-wide ethnographies and randomized controlled trials from diverse disciplines. The beneficial impact of the arts could be furthered through acknowledging and acting on the growing evidence base; promoting arts engagement at the individual, local and national levels; and supporting cross-sectoral collaboration
Teaching Artists as Essential Workers: Respect, Collaboration, and Heft
In this piece, Dennie Palmer Wolf imagines the possibilities for teaching artists in the context of COVID-19. She writes “This time, strange as it is, is not time out; it’s time to plunge deep in.”
Talking About Race
Talking about race, although hard, is necessary. We are here to provide tools and guidance to empower your journey and inspire conversation.
You care about making the world a more equitable and just place for all. You may just be starting to think about your role and ability to impact others, or, you may be further along on your journey. Wherever you are, what you do and say matters. Explore how to speak and engage constructively about race, so we can all grow together.
How Do We Read? Let’s Count the Ways
This report uses data from the 2017 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts to characterize and compare adults who read books in print only, who read books electronically, and who listen to audiobooks.
The Arts Data Education Toolkit
Many barriers to analyzing and reporting on education data have fallen in recent decades, putting the work described in this toolkit within reach of arts stakeholders who couldn’t have dreamed of doing anything like it just 20 years ago. Even so, this toolkit may not be for everyone. It has been written for:
People who can bring on partners. This toolkit is for anyone who can assemble a robust network of state, regional or local partners to pursue an arts education data initiative. Such a network could include representatives of state arts agencies, state education agencies, arts or education nonprofits,
state policymakers or influential parent and community organizations. The network could also include representatives of regional or local nonprofits, school districts or community groups. A successful effort need not involve all these agencies and organizations, but it will probably falter if few or none of
them are engaged. You can’t do this alone.
People who lack expertise in data. This toolkit is written for people who are not experts in state education data systems, data analysis or data reporting. If you are an expert in these areas, you may find parts I and V useful, but Parts II through IV may cover information you already know. (The detailed
Table of Contents can help you understand what each part of the toolkit contains.)
This toolkit cannot teach a non-expert how to analyze large datasets, employ sophisticated statistical models, create the computer code behind leading-edge education data dashboards or draft legal documents to guide data sharing. It can help you understand when you need to bring on help.
This toolkit can help you determine who can provide that help – data analysts, programmers or lawyers, for example. Sometimes, help will be close at hand; some state agencies may be able to analyze data for you, or a tech-savvy intern could help you create data dashboards. In other cases, you
may have to hire help. This toolkit aims to give you the information you need to choose strong partners, ask informed questions and anticipate key challenges and opportunities along the way.
Creativity and Persistence: Art that Fueled the Fight for Women’s Suffrage
The National Endowment for the Arts published Creativity and Persistence: Art that Fueled the Fight for Women’s Suffrage as part of the centennial celebration of passage of the 19th amendment. The book commemorates how the arts were used to change the image of women in America and illustrate the importance of their full participation in society and politics.
