Creative Wellbeing and Social Inequalities in the UK and Europe: A Review of the Literature

Creative wellbeing is an increasing field of interest to which biomedical and social sciences have made uneven contributions. The instrumental value of culture and its subsequential public investment is grounded in the interplay of social, cultural and economic capital to attain and preserve wellbeing and health and foster social mobility. The current evidence addresses the effectiveness of arts interventions in improving illnesses. Little attention has been paid to the social value of creative wellbeing for the general population.

This paper is a rapid review and evidence synthesis that aims to answer, “What is the social value of place-based arts and culture interventions at an individual (wellbeing) and community (social inequalities) in the UK and Europe?”

After a systematic search of five databases, search engines and a call for evidence in August 2022, 14 out of 974 sources met the inclusion criteria. Studies were organised into three themes (Community, Events, Museums), and outcomes were analysed considering the indicators and dimensions of wellbeing (Office for National Statistics).

The review evidences that creative wellbeing leads to improvements in wellbeing outcomes and can contribute to alleviating social determinants of health. However, considering their impact on the underlying causes of structural social inequalities requires caution. While insightful, current conclusions are limited, emphasising the need for supplementary, high-quality mixed-methods research to demonstrate long-term impacts.

In partnership with What Works Centre Wellbeing and Spirit of 2012, the review shaped the evaluation of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021, offering evidence of community-based art practices' effectiveness in enhancing wellbeing and addressing health-related social determinants. Insights into efficient mechanisms and inequality drivers informed decisions on future programme design for the UK City of Culture.