Creating the future of arts in health in the Netherlands.

The field of arts in health uses artistic practices to support health and well-being, and to stimulate positive approaches to health. Specially trained artists help patients, staff, informal caregivers, and community members be actively creative, regardless of their previous experience of the arts.

Open call for artists – Arts in Health Pilot at UMCG

Arts in Health Netherlands lanceert een pilot in het grootste ziekenhuis van Noord-Nederland. Het doel van deze pilot is om een model te ontwikkelen voor de integratie van kunstparticipatie binnen het ziekenhuis. In samenwerking met het UMCG en locatietheatergezelschap Peergroup ontwikkelt de pilot meerdere Arts in Health-projecten gericht op het welzijn van ziekenhuismedewerkers. Voor deze call zijn we op zoek naar vijf kunstenaars die tussen februari en juli 2025 in samenwerking met medewerkers van het UMCG een kunstproject zullen ontwikkelen. Professionele kunstenaars uit alle kunstdisciplines (beeldende kunst, muziek, theater, design, enz.) kunnen solliciteren. Voorkeur gaat uit naar kunstenaars die in het noorden van Nederland wonen. De pilot wordt in november 2025 feestelijk afgesloten met een evenement in het UMCG.

Open call voor kunstenaars

De deadline om te solliciteren is 31 december.

Heb je interesse, maar ben je onzeker of dit project iets voor jou is? Doe mee aan de online infosessie op 4 december 2024 van 16:00 tot 17:00 uur. Registreer hier.

Arts in health in the Netherlands: A national agenda

The Care Through Creativity event officially launched the white paper Arts in health in the Netherlands: A national agenda, published by the University of Groningen Press. The white paper represents the contributions of scholars, health professionals, artists, funders, administrators, and policy makers. The white paper:

Describes how the arts contribute to the transformation of the Dutch healthcare system.
Surveys the arts in health field in the Netherlands.
Connects research and the practice of arts in health for public health policy in the Netherlands.
Offers a set of goals and recommended actions to guide future planning and implementation.

Many thanks to our steering committee partners:
University of Groningen/Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health
Leyden Academy on Vitality and Aging
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Landelijk Kennisinstituut Cultuureducatie en Amateurkunst
University Medical Center Groningen

Download the Whitepaper

Over 30 years of international research points to the positive health effects of the arts. This paper was developed to encourage administrators, funders, governments, researchers and artists to explore how the field of arts in health can contribute to the transformation of healthcare.

Please cite as:
Lewis, F., Groot, B., Krans, K. L. S., van Leeuwen, B., van der Wal-Huisman, H., Abma, T. A., Tal, M., van Campen, C., Kiss, K., Bussemaker, J., Finnema, E., Kolsteeg, J., Buskens, E., te Marvelde, D., & van den Berg, N. (2024). Arts in Health in the Netherlands: A national agenda. University of Groningen Press. https://doi.org/10.21827/65c5df4b7d0b3

Download the whitepaper

Whitepaper (EN)

Whitepaper (NL)

A lot of arts in health whitepapers on a table

Arts in Health Netherlands

Mission

Redefining healthcare with creativity and a people-first mindset. Join us on a journey to transform the Dutch healthcare system into a space that celebrates humanity through art.

We believe that the arts can play an active role in the wellbeing of patients and healthcare staff, in disease prevention, and in providing access to care in the community. Our work supports the Dutch healthcare system’s transformation toward a more positive, person-focused system of care and disease prevention.

Our program mission is to give creative art-making a permanent place in the care institutions of the Netherlands. With an alliance of partners from around the Netherlands we developed the first national arts in health agenda, and we support the implementation of its goals. At the local level, we work with hospitals, long-term care facilities, education institutions, researchers, non-profits, and governments, developing sustainable programs to advance the field nationwide.