The connection between arts, culture, health, and well-being is gaining the recognition it deserves, and south east London is leading the way with the upcoming Creative Health Impact Framework. This new tool, co-designed by professionals from the arts, voluntary, culture, and health sectors, aims to help plan and measure the impact of creative health projects more effectively.  

Commissioned by London Plus and supported by the Mayor of London, the framework offers a fresh way to capture the value of creative interventions in health.

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What is Creative Health?  

Creative health focuses on using artistic and cultural activities to improve people’s mental, physical, and social well-being. Whether it’s music therapy, art workshops, or theatre programmes for mental health, creative initiatives often provide benefits that complement traditional medical care.  

Research shows the positive impact of creative health — reducing anxiety, building social connections, and improving community cohesion. However, capturing these outcomes in a structured way has been a challenge. That’s where the Creative Health Impact Framework comes in.

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What the Framework Aims to Achieve  

1. Standardised Measurement:

Arts projects often rely on personal stories and qualitative feedback. This framework will introduce consistent metrics, making it easier to demonstrate impact in ways that funders and health services can recognise.  

2. Cross-sector Collaboration:

It’s been designed with input from a wide range of stakeholders — VCSEs, cultural organisations, and healthcare providers—ensuring it works for everyone involved in creative health initiatives.  

3. Empowering the VCSE Sector:

The framework offers practical tools to help VCSE organisations plan and evaluate their work, making it easier to secure sustainable funding and align projects with health outcomes.  

The idea isn’t just to measure success but to help organisations plan projects with clear goals in mind, ensuring that both artistic and health-related objectives are met.  

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A Collaborative Journey  

This framework has been shaped through collaboration, bringing together professionals from the arts, health, and voluntary sectors. Over the past five months, co-production workshops have allowed everyone involved to contribute their expertise and insight.  

This collective approach reflects the power of shared knowledge — when different sectors work together, better solutions emerge. One project lead described the process as “a true example of how collaboration can spark innovation.”  

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Next Steps: Launching the Framework  

With the framework nearly complete, the team is preparing for its official launch. Soon, organisations and practitioners will have access to tools to help plan, evaluate, and grow creative health projects.  

If you’re interested in staying up to date, you can subscribe to the London Plus newsletter to get the latest news on the launch and other developments.  

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Why This Framework Matters  

This framework is more than a set of tools—it represents a shift in how creative health is valued. Arts-based projects will no longer be seen as “nice to have” but as an essential part of public health strategies.  

By providing a way to measure outcomes reliably, the framework strengthens the case for embedding creative interventions into healthcare. This means better access to funding, stronger partnerships, and ultimately, improved well-being for individuals and communities.  

While the Creative Health Impact Framework is being developed in south east London, it has the potential to inspire other regions across the UK. With growing awareness of how arts and culture contribute to well-being, this framework offers a sustainable way to scale creative health initiatives nationwide.  

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Looking Ahead  

The Creative Health Impact Framework points to a future where arts, culture, and health work together to improve well-being. With the backing of London Plus, the Mayor of London, and local organisations, this project shows the power of cross-sector collaboration in creating meaningful change.  

This is a tool that could reshape how we plan, deliver, and evaluate creative interventions, helping us build healthier, more connected communities.  

Stay in the loop by subscribing to the London Plus newsletter and join the journey towards a more creative approach to health and well-being!

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