Arts, Health and Well-Being. Sketches for a new international model for heritage enhancement

Arts therapies have been found to reduce anxiety, depression and stress levels, while increasing resilience and well-being (Creative Health, 2017). However, the potential contribution of the arts to health and well-being has as yet been far from being realized. Too often, arts programmes for health are temporary, and provision is uneven across the different countries. For this to improve, a cultural change is needed. Universities can play an important role in realizing a collaboration across the systems of health, social care and the arts. The new model herewith described is sketched from the educational and social needs of different categories of users involved. The potential of a collaboration of universities, professionals in health and social care as well as of artists and people working in cultural organizations is investigated in this chapter in order to identify guidelines for the implementation of the new model of enhancement.