The Arts Council of Wales’ Arts, Health and Wellbeing Lottery Fund reopens today (20 November 2024) for applications, with renewed calls for creative projects that connect people with nature.

The fund is open to partnership bids from across the arts, health, social care, nature, environmental and third sectors and the closing date for applications is Wednesday 22 January. As part of the Arts Council of Wales’ Creative Nature Agreement with Natural Resources Wales, which aims to cultivate relationships between the arts and the natural environment, partnerships between Wales’ arts, health and nature organisations are particularly encouraged to apply.

A new nature toolkit is also published today to inspire and support applicants in designing such nature-centric projects. This resource, now available on our website, provides organisations with additional information, inspiration and resources as they develop creative projects that focus on improving health and well-being through greater connection with the natural environment. 

“The arts, nature and our wellbeing are intrinsically linked,” 

said Liz Clarke, Interim Programme Manager for Arts Health and Wellbeing at the Arts Council of Wales.

 “We know spending time outdoors and connecting our creativity with nature can be hugely beneficial to our health and wellbeing.

“Our partnership with Natural Resources Wales is born from that knowledge, and we hope the development of this extra resource will encourage more high-impact projects that creatively integrate wellness, artistic expression and the natural world as we work together to foster more resilient, healthier communities across Wales.”

Other eligible health challenges and priorities for the Fund include projects that aim to tackle mental health, health inequalities, physical health and wellbeing, and/or staff wellbeing within the health or arts sectors. 

For more information on the Arts and Health Lottery Fund, including eligibility criteria and access to the new nature toolkit, please visit https://arts.wales/funding/organisations/arts-health-and-wellbeing