The benefits of everyday arts engagements for health and well-being
July 20, 2026
As part of the Why the Arts Matter Now campaign, the Edmonton Arts Council is publishing a series of short articles and videos highlighting the numerous ways engaging in the arts and creative practices can support the health and well-being of individuals.
A special thanks to the University Hospital Foundation’s Artists on the Ward program for sharing their story about why the arts matter in healthcare.
The benefits of everyday arts engagements for health and well-being
When we think about ways of maintaining good overall health and well-being, things like exercising, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep come to mind. But have you considered the role that arts and culture can play towards these same goals? A scoping literature review published by the World Health Organization in 2019 found that engagement with the arts can promote the health and well-being of individuals and communities in a variety of ways.1 There are two types of arts engagement: active and receptive.2 Active arts engagement involves an individual or group of people taking part in the creation or production of artistic works. People attending a painting class, a jam session with musicians, an independent photography session, or workshopping poetry and prose with other writers are all examples of active arts engagements. Receptive arts engagement is more like being a spectator or audience member when taking in arts-based activities and events. This includes things like visiting an art gallery, attending a concert, listening to an album at home, or going out to watch a movie or a play at a theatre. In general, engaging with and experiencing art provides tangible health benefits for people throughout the life course.
Daisy Fancourt, professor of psychobiology & epidemiology at University College London, has helped demonstrate how everyday arts engagements contribute to a person’s overall health in her book Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Fancourt describes the benefits of arts engagement in ways that activate pleasure regions in the brain and help people reduce their stress and improve their physical health.3 Fancourt suggests that people should seek out artistic and creative activities that they enjoy and engage with them in a mindful way. This can be done by taking at least 30 minutes or so and focusing your attention on the activity, whether it be listening to music, reading a book, crafting an article of clothing, attending a dance class, observing public art in nature, or watching a show. The main idea is to engage with the art or creative form in a manner free from other distractions.
In a city as large as Edmonton though, some planning is often required to participate in arts and cultural activities outside of our homes. Findings from the EAC’s 2026 public survey, with a sample of 1,504 respondents, indicated that over 80% of all respondents experienced at least one type of barrier when trying to participate in an arts or cultural event.7 About 40% of respondents said that it was either difficult to find time to participate or that the activity or event was too expensive. Moreover, about one-in-four respondents stated that they did not know how to find out about events or activities, or that the location was difficult to get to, or that environmental conditions such as poor weather or air quality were a barrier.
Throughout the year, the EAC promotes arts-based events in the community through newsletters, social media, and our online events calendar. Both ticketed and free-to-attend events around the city are promoted throughout the year. The City of Edmonton also hosts attractions and events along with creative classes and workshops that are available throughout the year. Another way to actively engage with the arts is through volunteering. Many arts-based festivals and organizations in the city rely on the contributions of volunteers to operate and volunteers are often provided free access to shows and events for their donated time. While engaging with the arts can be a challenge at first, making time to partake in and enjoy these experiences can go a long way towards supporting your health and well-being.
References
- World Health Organization. (2019). What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.who.int/publicatio…
- Davies, C. R., & Clift, S. (2022). Arts and health glossary – A summary of definitions for use in research, policy, and practice. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 949685. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.949685
- Wagstaff, K. (2026, April 8). Exercise is vital to your health, but so are the arts. Here’s how to reap the benefits. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2026 – 04-08/how-art-can-improve-health
- Hill Strategies Research. (2021). Canadians’ arts participation, health, and well-being. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://canadacouncil.ca/research/research-library/2021/03/canadians-arts-participation-health-and-well-being
- Campbell, D. (2026, May 12). Arts and cultural engagement ‘linked to slower pace of biological ageing’. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/may/12/arts-cultural-engagement-linked-slower-pace-biological-ageing-ucl-research
- Stone-Olafson. (2023). Spotlight on arts audiences: Wave 1 results, December 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2026, from https://www.rozsafoundation.com/spotlightonartsaudiences
- Edmonton Arts Council. (2026). 2026 survey project: Public survey. Retrieved June 11, 2026, from https://d1m1qf7zsvwtnw.cloudfront.net/documents/EAC-2026-Public-Stakeholder-Survey_Final‑1.pdf
Related
