The Cultural Cwtsh, a bilingual website launched in March 2022 by the Arts Council of Wales was created to thank and support busy NHS and social care staff. It will now be embedded in Public Health Wales’ new Hapus programme, which formally launches in July.
Hapus is a campaign and online resource that aims to increase public understanding of mental wellbeing. It encourages and supports people to prioritise and make time for the things that can protect and promote mental wellbeing, including engaging with the wide and varied sector of arts and culture.
Liz Clarke, Interim Programmes Manager for Arts, Health and Wellbeing at Arts Council of Wales, said: “We commissioned an independent evaluation of the Cultural Cwtsh, which features more than 70 diverse, bilingual resources offering innovate ways to tap into creativity. A key recommendation was to open access to these valuable creative wellbeing resources to the wider public.
“As an active partner in Public Health Wales’ Hapus programme, we saw a strong overlap and synergy between the aims of the Cultural Cwtsh and Hapus web resources. Hapus offers the Cultural Cwtsh a new home and an opportunity for the content to be highlighted as part of a high-profile, public-facing campaign. Not only is it great news for the Welsh public who get to access these brilliant resources but it’s also beneficial for the artists, whose work will now be seen by a wider audience.”
The Cultural Cwtsh was created by the Arts Council of Wales in consultation with Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW) and Social Care Wales amid mounting evidence of the positive impact the arts can have on our health and wellbeing.
Part-funded by the Welsh Government, it features more than 70 artists from across Wales, with bitesize videos featuring creative moments and activities that vary from dance and song writing sessions to mindful walks through nature and even juggling.
You can find more information about Hapus, including its tools and resources, here.