On 10 June 2026, Policy Area Health of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) together with the Estonian Mental Health Coalition (VATEK), organised the Arts on Prescription (AoP) Estonian National Transfer Webinar bringing together experts, policymakers, cultural practitioners, and health professionals to explore how arts and cultural participation can support mental health and well-being and to consider what it would take to bring Arts on Prescription to Estonia.

The webinar built on the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project “Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region” and was organised in the context of two further initiatives: “Arts on Prescription in Norway,” funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, and the “BSR Mental Health Platform,” funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme.

The strong turnout of participants across Estonia and beyond reflected a growing recognition that culture plays an important role in addressing some of today’s most pressing mental health challenges.

The event was opened by Anneli Vares, Director of the Estonian Mental Health Coalition (VATEK), and Ülla-Karin Nurm, Director of the NDPHS Secretariat, who welcomed participants and set the scene for the discussions that followed.

Evidence and Policy Context

Participants heard from experts working at the intersection of culture, health and public policy.

Nils Fietje from WHO Europe, presented the growing international evidence base demonstrating how arts and cultural engagement can positively influence health and well-being. A substantial body of research now links artistic and cultural activity to better mental health, stronger social cohesion, and healthier communities.

Maris Jõgeva from the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs outlined developments within Estonia’s mental health strategy and discussed the importance of preventive and community-based approaches that can complement existing health services, a direction that maps closely onto what Arts on Prescription offers.

What Arts on Prescription Offers

Ülla-Karin Nurm and Wiebke Marcus of the NDPHS Secretariat set out the case for new approaches: the rising burden of mental health problems across Europe, and the need for low-intensity, community-based responses alongside clinical care. Many people facing loneliness, social isolation, or mild to moderate distress need connection, structure, and purpose as much as medical treatment. Arts on Prescription responds to exactly this, connecting people with structured arts and cultural activities that open up opportunities for creativity, social connection, and improved well-being.

Drawing on the evaluation of the “Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region” project, which tested the model across 24 pilot programmes in five countries, the presentation showed that the approach works. Quantitative findings, from a relatively small sample, pointed to reduced anxiety and depression symptoms. The qualitative findings were consistent across all pilots: participants described improved mood, greater self-confidence, and relief from everyday worries. Many spoke of their group as a “safe space” where they felt seen and accepted, made new friends, and regained a sense of hope. The evaluation was also honest about what did not work for everyone, with some participants finding group settings difficult or the end of a programme unsettling. These insights fed directly into improvements between pilot rounds.

Learning from the Baltic Sea Region

A central part of the webinar focused on practical experiences from across the Baltic Sea Region, where Arts on Prescription models have been developed and tested in very different settings.

Stine Eskesen Keiding from Culture Region Funen introduced the Danish Kulturkraft model in Odense, demonstrating how cultural participation can be integrated into local well-being initiatives. Hannah Goebel from Adult Education Center Bremen presented the integrated Arts on Prescription approach developed in Bremen, Germany, where cross-sector collaboration has made the existing course catalogue more accessible to programme participants.

The Latvian experience was shared by Inga Surgunte from Cēsis Municipality, who presented the Museums on Prescription initiative and showed how museums can become active partners in promoting community well-being. Finally, Marit Stranden from the Norwegian Resource Centre for Arts and Health highlighted pilot programmes implemented across several Norwegian municipalities, providing further examples of how arts-based interventions can be successfully adapted to local contexts.

The common threat was clear. There is no single AoP model that works everywhere. Successful programmes rely on strong partnerships between the health and cultural sectors, local leadership, and accessible community-based activities.

Resources for Future Development

The webinar also introduced resources developed through the Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region project, including the AoP Guide (aop.ndphs.org), the evaluation report, and a set of policy recommendations designed to support decision-makers interested in developing similar initiatives. The Guide walks users through the full life of a programme, from the first decision to set one up through to financing, facilitation, and evaluation, and includes a resource database and a find-a-mentor directory connecting new implementers with experienced practitioners.The recommendations call for formal recognition of Arts on Prescription within mental health promotion and prevention strategies, stronger cross-sector collaboration between health and cultural sectors, and sustainable support mechanisms at national, regional and local levels.

Looking Ahead

The webinar provided an important opportunity to exchange experiences, share evidence, and discuss how Arts on Prescription approaches could help strengthen mental health promotion efforts in Estonia.

The webinar forms part of the ongoing work of the BSR Mental Health Platform, which continues to share AoP results as part of a wider exchange on community-based mental health approaches across the Baltic Sea Region.