Measuring health outcomes of engagement in the arts: the Arts Health Strategy for the Australia Council

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Measuring health outcomes of engagement in the
arts the Arts Health Strategy for the Australia
Council
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Introduction

• Purpose of Arts in Health Strategy
• Evidence (examples) to highlight the proven role
  of arts in delivering positive outcomes in health
  care
• Build awareness of the benefits of arts on
  health, within arts organisations and
  medical/healthcare/community service providers
• Provide access to practical information and
  advice on this topic, and on services available
  across Australia (including indigenous health)
• Promote research into the area, and encourage the
  evaluation of arts activities in health care
  settings
• Identify new opportunities for artists and arts
  organisations to work in health care
• Promote Australian arts in health practice
  internationally.

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Existing research and literature

• A review of literature (peer reviewed,
  commissioned reports, policy documents in health
  and arts in Australia and internationally)
  revealed
• although many studies lack strong designs there
  is support for the contribution of the arts to
  health
• the importance of more research and evaluation in
  the arts and health field for providing evidence
  for beneficial impact
• a role for the arts in community health and
  social inclusion exists beyond the medical model
• expansion of research of the arts and health has
  potential to confirm the importance and
  centrality of the arts experience for the
  individual and the community.

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Method

• gain a better understanding of the scope of
  current arts and health projects
• identify opportunities for the development of
  interrelationships between arts and health
• identify perceptions from the arts and health
  sectors regarding the role of the Australia
  Council in enabling this.

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Instruments

• public submissions via online survey
• in-depth telephone interviews (practitioners,
  policy makers, artists and other key stakeholders
  in the arts and health domains, as well as
  members of the broader (national) community) and
  
• mapping of arts projects funded by Australia
  Council between 2002-2005.

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Sector of respondents
Interviews n15 Public submissions n64
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Populations targeted
Interviews n15 Public submissions n142
(projects)
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Types of arts programs

• Programs aimed at improving health and wellbeing
  by addressing
• Participation/inclusion
• Health promotion
• Ambience/atmosphere to promote well being
• Distraction/diversion
• Therapy

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Health goals
Australia Council n158 Interviews n15 Public
submissions n142 (projects)
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Interview findings

• What worked
• Collaboration/ partnerships
• Success has been dependent on capacity to
• evolve through changing partnerships,
  participants and
• workers
• Involvement of health professionals
• Involving doctors in the development and
  delivery of programs like
• this is key in ensuring success both in terms of
  content and
• participation

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• Inclusion/ involvement of all key players
• Planning (incl. long term)
• A contained period for the project allowed good
• evaluation and repetition of refined program.
  Inclusion
• of longer term plan in initial proposal would
  allow
• development of program
• Involvement of professional artists/ skilled
  people
• Critical to have well chosen experienced
  professional artists

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• What didnt work
• Lack of recognition (both across sectors and
  society broadly)
• Lack of understanding of the role of arts in
  health
• Funding
• funding bodies want to see continuity before
  funding or offer
• amounts that are not worth applying for
• lack of funding to sustain the administrative
  support needed to
• attract funding

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• Suggestions for improvement
• Education/ information dissemination (through
  papers, forums and the media broadly)
• Health partnerships
• There is a stated interest within health
  practitioner community to see such partnerships
  formed
• Training/support
• Research/ evaluation

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Strategy Options

• Three main strategy options which could be
• adopted by Australia Council
• Supporting and maintaining the status quo
• Promote the arts in the life of people with
  health and social disadvantagedeveloping art in
  new contexts to improve wellbeing
• Explore a fully fledged push into therapeutic
  models of arts in healthcare settings

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Where to next

• The arts and health strategy seeks to incorporate
  the arts into health and wellbeing programs,
  whilst supporting and assisting arts
  practitioners to work for health outcomes.

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Mission

• Incorporation of arts into health and wellbeing
  programs
• Support and assistance for arts practitioners to
  work for health outcomes

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Programs

• Developing partnerships for providing resources
  and developing the evidence base regarding the
  role of the arts in health
• Advocating for arts professionals working in
  health and wellbeing, based on the outcomes of
  demonstration projects
• Training and building capacity for health
  professionals in arts and health.

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Questions and comments