Healthcare
IMPACT
CONNEXT XR TOOLKIT
Research into improving public wellbeing in community settings.
In collaboration with social prescribers, healthcare specialists, librarians, XR and healthcare researchers and the public, we ran two pilots at Maidenhead Library and South Devon College over two weeks to explore Soul Paint's feasibility to improve public wellbeing in community settings.
In the 131 people sampled, 61% felt negative or neutral before Soul Paint and 76% felt positive after the experience: a 95% increase in positive feelings.
78% of Maidenhead Library participants and 82% of South Devon College participants indicated that they would do the experience again. Results strongly suggest that participants saw Soul Paint as a useful tool for checking in with emotional and physical wellbeing with which they would like to periodically re-engage.
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES COUNCIL AND ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND HEALTH AN&D WELLBEING FORUM
Soul Paint named leading case study of creative health in the United Kingdom.
A new report highlighting how creativity is improving the nation’s health & wellbeing - and saving the NHS money - has been published by the Creative Industries Council & Arts Council England.
The report demonstrates how creative activity - from music and theatre to reading, dance,design and immersive technologies - can treat and prevent illness, reducing pressure on the NHS.
It highlights that with the right training and support, wider provision of creative health could also create new job and business growth opportunities for creative practitioners.
The report draws on evidence, case studies, and expert insight to make five recommendations to move the creative health agenda forward:
● Expanding opportunities for children and young people to take part in creative activities, in and out of school and hospital settings.
● Raising awareness of the health benefits of creativity through a public campaign.
● Building and sharing the evidence base to inform health leaders and policymakers.
● Strengthening dialogue with the health sector to align with the NHS’s ten-year plan.
● Supporting the creative workforce through skills, fair pay and wellbeing measures.
Soul Paint has also been a leading creative health case study by Arts Council England - you can read more about the project and their specific work to support creative health here.