Funded by the Swedish Institute and led by Sunderby Folk High School, ArtWell Net brings partners together to establish a long-term Arts and Wellbeing Network for joint learning and best-practice sharing to promote collaboration across the Baltic Sea Region, the Nordic countries, and Ukraine. The project partnership includes Sunderby Folk High School, Kolomyia City Council, West Pomeranian Region, Region Norrbotten, and the NDPHS Secretariat. The network is designed to grow, with plans to expand membership to all Baltic Sea Region and Nordic countries.

The event marked a strong start for ArtWell Net and reflected the growing momentum around Arts on Prescription and culture-based approaches to mental well-being across the region. Partners emphasized that current healthcare standards are at risk without a shift toward disease prevention and community solidarity. ArtWell Net aims to facilitate this shift through social prescribing—referring individuals to non-clinical arts activities to improve well-being. Supported by a 2019 WHO report, this approach is increasingly recognized for managing mild to moderate mental health issues, yet systematic integration into national systems remains rare.

Global Insights and Local Solutions. The two-day event brought together partners from Ukraine, Sweden, and Poland for an internal strategy meeting followed by a hybrid public session. Elias Sandling (Sunderby Folk High School) presented an overview of the ArtWell Net, its plans and vision. Ülla-Karin Nurm (NDPHS Secretariat) provided insights into the BSR Mental Health Platform, which aims to close a policy gap by helping public authorities integrate approaches from art and culture, nature, design, education, and physical activity to support the mental health of people of all ages. Stine Eskesen Keiding (Odense Municipality) presented findings from the Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region project and concluded with the introduction of the AoP Guide, a comprehensive resource for policymakers, practitioners, and link workers that offers guidance on designing and facilitating AoP programmes in different settings and countries. Kornelia Kiss (Culture Action Europe) introduced the new Culture and Health Platform, a four-year European initiative supporting over 200 artists with funding, mobility, training, networking, and visibility opportunities while raising awareness of the vital role culture plays in health and well-being across EU policy and practice. Bea Walker (National Academy for Social Prescribing) presented how social prescribing has expanded across the UK—supported by national investment, thousands of link workers, strong evidence of health impact, growing international networks, and its firm embedding in key government strategies and cross-sector partnerships.

A key component of the new network is its inclusion of Ukrainian partners. During the meeting, representatives from the Kolomyia City Council, Mariana Kodina and Dmytro Kopyltsiv, shared insights on how Arts on Prescription is being used to support community recovery during the ongoing war. Their programs focus on veterans, military families, and internally displaced persons, utilizing creative activities to foster resilience and connection. This partnership offers a vital two-way exchange: Ukraine provides insights into implementing AoP during crises where medical services are constrained, while Baltic and Nordic partners learn how to better support Ukrainian refugees in their own regions. To ensure full engagement, the event featured simultaneous English–Ukrainian interpretation.

Strategic Focus: Governance and Inclusivity The strategy sessions identified that success requires a cross-sectoral approach, bridging the gap between healthcare professionals and artists. The network aims to target distinct audiences based on national context:

• Decision-Makers: In countries with existing momentum, the goal is integrating AoP into financial frameworks.
• Local Practitioners: In other regions, the focus is on building an evidence base through pilots.

Roadmap for 2026–2027 The launch concluded with a clear timeline for the network’s future activities:

• April 2026 (Szczecin, Poland): Workshops on educating art facilitators and link workers.
• September 2026 (Ukraine/Hybrid): Stakeholder engagement focused on mobilizing facilitators for veterans and first responders.
• March 2027 (Norrbotten, Sweden): A study visit exploring regional culture-health models.

By moving beyond short-term projects to a permanent network structure, ArtWell Net aims to ensure that culture becomes a sustainable pillar of public health across the region.

ArtWell Net brings together professionals from the culture and health sectors to create a shared space for learning, exchange, and collaboration. By connecting artists, cultural actors, health practitioners, and policymakers, the initiative aims to build a vibrant network that strengthens understanding, fosters innovation, and supports capacity building across both fields.

The project is funded by the Swedish Institute:

Project partners: