On October 15, the international conference “Culture and Health: Building Resilient Cross-Sectoral Cooperation in Latvia” highlighted next steps for strengthening cooperation between culture and health sectors in Latvia. The event brought together policymakers, researchers, practitioners from the cultural, health, and social sectors, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations. After learning from the experiences of other European countries and taking part in art workshops, participants discussed next steps to ensure that culture becomes an integral part of the health promotion system in Latvia.

In a policy workshop led by the NDPHS Secretariat, participants identified the creation of coordination contact points – both at municipal and national levels – as the first and most important step toward lasting collaboration between the culture and health sectors. Two developments associated with the conference signaled positive progress in this direction. At the conclusion of the conference, the establishment of the NGO Culture and Health Latvia was announced. The organization brings together professionals from culture, health and social sectors with the aim of promoting sustained and high-standard cross-sector collaboration in Latvia and engaging with the international culture and health community. Registered in Cēsis Municipality at the Eduards Veidenbaums Museum “Kalāči”, the NGO’s initial tasks will include ensuring the continuation of the Museums on Prescription programme developed during the project, as well as organizing educational and networking events to strengthen the emerging Culture and Health community in Latvia.

Following the conference, a meeting was held in Riga between representatives of the Ministries of Culture and Health and World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe. The discussion focused on opportunities and solutions for developing cross-sectoral policies and projects in Latvia, with inter-ministerial dialogue expected to continue in the near future.

A second strategic focus highlighted during the conference was education, public awareness, and research. This theme was emphasized in the closing panel discussion, which brought together representatives of the Ministries of Health and Culture, the Latvian Academy of Culture, and Riga Stradiņš University. Panelists agreed on the need to raise awareness among the general public and decision-makers about the contribution that cultural participation makes to health. This understanding should be built on the long-term implementation of local Culture and Health programmes and the collection of locally relevant research data.

In this context, a collaborative project between researchers at Riga Stradiņš University and Saldus Municipality is noteworthy. The project aims to analyze residents’ needs and experiences in the field of mental health, as well as the potential of cultural activities to address those needs. On a national level, discussions also addressed the importance of conducting population surveys and collecting statistical data on the impact of cultural participation on public health.

For more details, see the conference video recordings and the conclusion document / summary of the final panel discussion in the gallery.

The upcoming conference Acting on Health: The Role of Arts in Well-being organized as a side event to the NDPHS 17th Partnership Annual Conference will take place on November 13 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The conference will explore the growing role of artistic and cultural interventions in supporting health and wellbeing. It will conclude the Interreg-funded Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region project which united partners from Denmark, Germany, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden.

Attendees will hear from AoP participants and facilitators about their experiences, learn about pilot projects from across the Baltic Sea Region, and discover research findings on the effectiveness of arts-based interventions. The day will feature presentations from experts and project partners, policy discussions with high-level representatives, interactive artistic activities, and many opportunities for networking. Registration for the conference is closed. Post conference publications will follow.

Both conferences are a part of the closure of the project “Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region 2023–2025,” co-financed by the European Union (ERDF) under the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme.