The Arts on Prescription (AoP) guide is a comprehensive guide for public authorities and practitioners in public health and culture. With mental health issues affecting approximately 1 billion people globally, innovative social and health approaches are vital for community wellbeing. Arts on Prescription is one such approach. Evidence clearly indicates the arts enhance mental health and social belongingness.

The guide introduces the AoP concept and offers practical information that covers diverse topics regarding community-based AoP programmes. Much of the information in the guide is based on practical experience and insights from the AoP in the Baltic Sea Region project. Local and regional public authorities in cooperation with cultural institutions have piloted and adapted the generic concept to partners local context in eight locations across Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Poland, and Sweden from November 2023 to November 2024. The eight piloting locations share their experiences crossing a broad range of contextual factors and dos and don’ts when piloting and implementing AoP programmes.

Weather you are a project manager, arts and culture facilitator or a decision maker, the guide provides you with the necessary background information, tools, best practices, and information on how to plan, implement, and invest in AoP programmes.

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Arts on Prescription receives financial support from the Interreg Baltic Sea Region and is co-funded by the European Union.