Creative Health

What is creative health?

Creative health recognizes the positive impact that creative and cultural activities, like art, performance, film, and music, can have on our health and wellbeing. These activities can combat loneliness, prevent illness, and help manage long-term conditions like dementia and heart disease. For example, singing can improve breathing for people with long-covid, dance can reduce the risk of heart disease, and music and movement can aid in stroke rehabilitation.

Creative health in Hackney: the Hoxton Hub

The Hoxton Hub, established in September 2023, is a pilot project in the Shoreditch Park and City neighbourhood. It is a network of over 40 organizations from the health, community, and culture sectors, including galleries, theatres, a university, a homeless charity, and local GPs and hospitals, all working together to promote creative health partnerships.

Led by Hoxton Hall and Hackney Council’s Culture team, the network meets every two months to find ways to incorporate creative activities into local healthcare.

Over the past 18 months, the Hoxton Hub has:

Published a manifesto outlining its goals
Developed a Footways map of creative health places in Hoxton and Shoreditch funded by UCL Creative Health and developed through community consultation
In October 2024, held a "Hoxton Fun Palace" with local partners, a free event showcasing the role of creativity in wellbeing

The Hoxton Hub is currently applying for funding to:

Strengthen its partnerships
Deliver and learn from case studies
Support more Hackney residents in accessing cultural activities to improve their wellbeing

Further information about creative health:

The national context

There is a recognized need for creative health within the UK's health and care systems. Lord Darzi's recent Independent Investigation of the NHS highlights the need for preventative health services in community settings. This shift requires collaboration between the NHS, local authorities, and community organizations.

Creative Health in London

London Action on Creative Health (LACH), a collaboration between the GLA, Arts Council England, and London Arts & Health, is working to establish a "Creative Health City" in London. The aim is to improve population health through closer collaboration between healthcare and the cultural sector.

Contact

If you are interested in learning more the Hoxton Hub, or if your organisation would like to join the network, please contact lucy.mcmenemy@hackney.gov.uk