The Wales Arts Health and Wellbeing Network showcases how the arts improve people’s mental and physical health. Angela Rogers, Executive Director of WAHWN, explains their impact.
ARTS, HEALTH AND WELLBEING IN WALES: BUILDING A MOVEMENT TOGETHER
The arts are transforming lives across Wales, supporting recovery and helping communities thrive. WAHWN’s mission is simple, yet ambitious: to embed arts and creativity into health and social care systems, champion prevention, and ensure equitable access to cultural experiences that improve mental and physical health. Creativity is not a luxury, it’s a necessity for health and wellbeing.
WHO WE ARE
WAHWN is the sector support organisation for arts health and wellbeing. We are a growing network of over 1,000 members from the arts, health, social care, academia and voluntary sector.
Our members deliver incredible projects every day, bringing music onto hospital wards; using theatre to support those recovering from substance mis-use challenges; dance for falls prevention; singing to improve lung function and creating visual arts programmes that support mental health recovery.
These projects demonstrate the power of creativity to address some of the most pressing health challenges in Wales. Our Knowledge Bank hosts a wide range of case studies.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIP
WAHWN works closely with Arts Council of Wales’ Arts Health & Wellbeing Lottery grantees who are delivering arts and health partnership programmes. This funding supports projects that address physical and mental health challenges, tackle health inequalities, support health professionals’ wellbeing and align with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy vision statements.
It’s creating environments that enable people to thrive and ensuring timely access to support. WAHWN invites WCVA partners to collaborate with arts organisations and bring creative solutions into health and care settings.
WHY JOIN WAHWN?
As a member of WAHWN, you’ll gain access to:
- regular network meetings for collaboration and shared learning.
- a monthly newsletter packed with opportunities, resources and case studies.
- a growing library of toolkits, research and best practice.
- advocacy at the highest levels. WAHWN works closely with Welsh NHS Confederation, Arts Council of Wales, Public Health Wales (as a Hapus supporter), and the Wellbeing of Future Generations Office, and we represent the sector at the Cross Party Group on Arts and Health.
Our work is about building the arts, health and wellbeing movement in Wales, and we want WCVA partners to be part of it. Together, we can strengthen partnerships, amplify impact, and ensure that creativity is at the heart of health and care.
ADVOCACY AND COLLABORATION
WAHWN is deeply engaged in advocacy, informing and influencing policy and practice to ensure arts and health are recognised as essential components of wellbeing.
We were delighted recently to meet Johanna Davies, Head of Health and Social Care at WCVA, to explore opportunities for collaboration with their Health and Care Project. There is huge potential for shared learning and partnership, and we look forward to working together to embed creativity in health and care systems.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Arts and health is not just about individual projects — it’s about systemic change. By working together, we can:
- reduce pressure on health services through creative prevention strategies.
- improve mental health outcomes by tackling isolation and building resilience.
- create inclusive, culturally rich environments that support wellbeing for all.
This aligns perfectly with the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, ensuring that decisions we make today contribute to a healthier, more creative Wales for generations to come.
GET INVOLVED
We invite you to join WAHWN and be part of this growing movement, whether you’re a health professional, a voluntary sector organisation or an artist passionate about making a difference.
Sign up today and access resources, opportunities and a community committed to using creativity to improve lives.
Find out more about WCVA’s Health and Care Project.