From creative workshops for former steelworkers in Neath-Port Talbot to art therapy for children with anxiety in North Wales, projects supporting mental wellbeing have surged following the last round of Arts Council of Wales’ Arts, Health and Wellbeing Lottery funding.
The Fund, which first launched in 2021, is currently open for new applications from partnerships among the arts, health, social care and third sectors responding to local and national health needs.
Catryn Ramasut, Director of Arts at the Arts Council of Wales, said: “At a time when both NHS and arts budgets are stretched, and the need for mental health and wellbeing support has never been more critical, we are proud to be supporting arts projects that respond to some major health challenges and make a difference to people's lives in Wales.
“Those who have secured funding already are, between them, supporting initiatives that span the full age spectrum, offering creative opportunities to support better mental health and help tackle the rising prevalence of social isolation and loneliness. The power of the arts in promoting health and wellbeing is well-evidenced and, as the Fund re-opens for applications, we hope to make a meaningful impact on communities across Wales during a time of unprecedented need.”
Arts and health initiatives funded in recent months also include photography projects for cancer patients in Velindre, programmes offering nostalgic art for people with mental ill health and dementia, live music and visual arts for young inpatients at mental health settings, and nature-based creativity for young people (for the full list, please see below).
Priorities for the Fund, which closes for applications on Wednesday 28 May, remain creative arts projects that connect people with nature, support mental health, address health inequalities, keep people active, or promote staff wellbeing.
For more information, including how to apply, visit here https://arts.wales/funding/organisations/arts-health-and-wellbeing
Projects supported in the last round of funding include:
| Creating nostalgic moments: Y Ty Celf CIC / The Art House Ltd | Working with Links and Swansea University, Y Ty Celf will provide art workshops themed around Nostalgia aimed at three cohorts: people living with dementia and carers; disengaged young people; and local people of any age living with mental health issues. |
| Artisanctuary: KIM Inspire | High quality art and craft workshops to improve the mental health of people struggling with mental illnesses and enhance the wellbeing of the staff and artists that support them. |
| Removing Barriers for Older People in the Arts: Reality Theatre Community Interest Company | The expansion of this project that is bringing community arts to older people in Newport, increasing its reach to make it more accessible in local areas. |
| Story Quest: National Literacy Trust | Testing a new nature-based story trail project within Gwent to support the wellbeing of primarily Asian and ethnically diverse children and young people by connecting them with nature as they participate in creative activities outdoors. |
| Into the Woods: Outside Lives Ltd | A multi-partner project that combines creativity and nature to promote mental health and well-being among people with complex conditions and mental health challenges through four seasonal programmes. |
| Development of Ty Llidiard Music and Visual Arts Project: Music in Hospitals and Care Cymru | Exploring the benefits of combining live music and visual arts to support young people in in-patient mental health environments. Testing new approaches to understand how best to support the wellbeing of young people, health and care staff, and musicians and artists involved. |
| The Art Garden: Breathe Creative | Based at the Growing Green allotment project in Cardiff, and branching out further to engage partner projects at other community wellbeing spaces, this project will offer a variety of art activities, such as photography and video, nature-based crafts and sculpture. |
| Carter’s: From Isolation to Socialisation | Patients of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board with lived experiences of isolation will be invited to co-produce 30 creative sessions with community partners to reduce isolation and improve socialisation, well-being and community cohesion. |
| MenoMove - Promoting Wellness in Menopause through Movement: The Body Hotel | This pilot programme, a partnership between The Body Hotel, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Velindre Health Board, aims to support individuals experiencing menopause by fostering connection and community. |
| Through Nature’s Lens: Velindre University NHS Trust | In partnership with Ffotogallery, Velindre Cancer Centre are inviting those in recovery from cancer, to slow down and connect with the natural world through the creative mediums of photography and poetry. |
| Arts and Wellbeing Perinatal Pilot Project: Tanio | This is a workshop series that combines visual arts and creative writing in practical, group settings, providing participants with new tools and connection with others through their experiences and ideas. |
| The Arts Space - Childhood Trauma and Arts Engagement project: Action for Children Fostering Wales | Through engagement in arts projects and activities, specifically shaped through collaboration between Action for Children trauma specialists and practicing community artists, children will have the opportunity to experience enriching sensory arts activities that provide a path to recovery and empowerment over their trauma. |
| Creative Home Delivery Service: People Speak Up Ltd | In partnership with the social prescribing team within prevention and wellbeing at Carmarthenshire County Council and Hywl Dda University Health Board, this service will continue to provide an arts and health service to older people at their homes to support an increase in mental health, loneliness and isolation. |
| Heads Up Art for Men: Gwella | A collaboration between Adferiad, YMCA Port Talbot, and Gwella to enhance the mental health, wellbeing, and resilience of men in Neath and Port Talbot – encouraging recovery and growth in a region critically affected by the closure of TATA Steel. |
| Swyn yr Afon - The Sound of the River: Artis Community Cymuned | Led by Artis Community/Cymuned at YMa in partnership with Assisted Recovery Centre Bridgend, Natural Resources Wales and the Arts and Mind Network, this pilot project integrates therapeutic arts, mental health support, and environmental awareness to foster wellbeing. Through a series of inclusive workshops and a community art installation inspired by the flow of the River Taff, participants from underserved communities will explore themes of connection, place, and belonging. |
| Bro Lles: CARN | Promoting mental health, wellbeing and confidence in nature among young people who have experienced low confidence post-pandemic and people over the age of 60 who are experiencing isolation. Creative workshops will focus on skills rooted in heritage and landscape, focusing on willow, wool and slate. |
| Heulwen: Pontio Arts | Artist in Residence will be positioned at Heulwen Unit Children's Clinic, Ysbyty Gwynedd, to create a welcoming and comforting environment for children and parents while they wait. The aim is to encourage increased attendance and reduce missed appointments. |
| Community Cohesion: Denbighshire Leisure Ltd | A trauma informed, creative arts participatory project, to support resettled families (refugees) and asylum-seekers affected by trauma in Denbighshire, run in collaboration with local partners, including Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s public health team, Denbighshire County Council’s resettlement team and the English as an Additional Language service. |
| Spring Arts Wellbeing and Development Lab: Cardiff Animation Festival | The research, development and prototyping of a development programme for creative professionals. The programme will take the form of a residential development lab for marginalised genders, including women. |
| Weave 2025: Wales Arts Health and Wellbeing Network | A two-day national arts, health and wellbeing conference in partnership with Wrexham Glyndwr University and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board celebrating and exploring exemplary partnerships addressing mental health and health inequalities and what needs to happen next to cultivate further positive policy change. |