Measuring Wellbeing. Gauging (Mental) Wellbeing Benefits of Arts & Cultural Participation: Insights & Approaches: A Review of Evidence

This review seeks to give insight into the ways in which the efficacy of arts and cultural interventions aimed at supporting participants’ mental wellbeing can be evaluated. The value of arts and culture for health is widely acknowledged (i.e. ACE, 2018; APPG, 2017; Cayton, 2007, Clift, 2012; Fancourt & Finn, 2019; Gordon-Nesbitt, 2022). However, a closer look at the available literature shows that the breadth of the arts and health field presents challenges in terms of defining the area of interest and, evidencing the effect of any intervention that is undertaken (i.e. Oman, 2021; APPG, 2017; McElroy et al., 2021; Thomson & Chatterjee, 2015; Daykin et al. 2017a; Daykin & Joss, 2016). Arguably, this is particularly the case where projects seek to evidence intangible benefits deriving from an intervention, such as improved (mental) wellbeing.