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The Muziekmaatjes (Music Buddies) project brings live music to children and their families in the pediatric ward of the Dijklander Hospital in Hoorn. From November 2024 to October 2025, specially trained music teachers from Boedijn Music School in Hoorn make music ‘with and for’ children and their families in the ward. 

The musical sessions take place twice a week. The music teachers are briefed by the hospital’s medical pedagogical staff, and personalise the music for each patient, for example, gentle sounds for a newborn, an upbeat and fun song for an eight-year-old, and a ukulele lesson for a teenager. Throughout, parents are encouraged to join in the creativity. 

The Music Buddies programme supplements the care provided by medical and nursing staff, supporting the wellbeing of both the children and their families. Read more about Muziekmaatjes in the article by the Noordhollands Dagblad.

According to Music Buddies project leader Ciska Ruitenberg, when she participated in the Arts in Health Summer School in June 2024, the idea for the programme was already brewing. An experienced musician and music teacher, Ruitenberg had been in conversation with Dijklander pediatrician Noud Drewes, who wanted to use live music to help his young patients feel more human and alive during treatment and recovery. Ruitenberg says, “As a teacher I know how live music can lift the spirits of young people. The idea of a hospital pilot program takes that to the next level”. 

Working with Drewes and hospital staff, Ruitenberg developed a proposal for the Music Buddies pilot and submitted it to the VSB fund, which specializes in social domain projects. VSB is partnering with Arts in Health Groningen and Music Buddies to evaluate the pilot. 

The evaluation research is being conducted by Arts in Health Groningen science director Ferdinand Lewis and research associate Nina van den Berg. Researcher van den Berg says,  “We are evaluating the implementation and outcomes of the programme. We will be able to say how the programme works, what needs to be adjusted, and how to make it sustainable for the future.” In the long term, the project partners hope to expand Muziekmaatjes to other departments, including the pediatric ward in the Dijklander Hospital location in Purmerend. 

Decades of scientific research show that the arts can reduce patient stress and pain, promote a sense of comfort and safety in hospital environments, and even shorten hospital stays. Music can also help patients deal with difficult treatments, and feel more engaged and ‘human’ in the high-tech hospital environment. “Especially for children in treatment, the arts can help build connections with their  ‘hospital family’ Van den Berg adds, “including their loved ones, caregivers and the musicians”.  

The goal of the programme is to promote a sense of connectedness and normality for patients. Ferdinand Lewis says, “These artists are trained to be highly sensitive to the patient’s needs, and they never pressure anyone to participate: If a child feels well enough to hear some music––and especially if they want to join in––that child is identifying with the part of themselves that is curious, joyous, and free to make choices”. Lewis adds that for parents, “Seeing their child being well, even in this small way, can also help families feel normal and connected”. 

For Ciska Ruitenberg and her Music Buddies team, the project is about much more than music. “We don’t go in with a set routine,” Ruitenberg says. “It’s about being present and responding to what a child or family needs at that moment. Sometimes that means playing quietly, sometimes it means making up a song together. It’s small, but it can really make a difference.”

‍Want to learn more about music for children in hospitals? 

Scientific studies show that live music can help children in hospitals regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and feel more at ease in the stressful environment (Giordano et al., 2020; Blackburn, 2020a; Bush et al., 2021). Music can have the effect of lowering heart rate and breathing, or  creating a calmness that can reduce the need for medication in some cases (Colwell et al., 2013; Grebosz-Haring & Thun-Hohenstein, 2018).

Live music can help children shift their focus away from the pain and discomfort of medical procedures (Sundar et al., 2016; Uggla et al., 2019). In cases where children are hospitalized for longer periods, live music has been associated with reduced feelings of passivity and an increased sense of control—especially when music is personalized or improvised (Colwell et al., 2013).

Music can create a sense of normalcy and connection even in a clinical environment, leading families and caregivers to report feeling more like a “hospital family” (Blackburn, 2020b; Giordano et al., 2021). For parents, participating in the intervention can strengthen their sense of involvement in the child’s care, which in turn helps the parent––and the child––feel safer and more supported (Preti & Welch, 2011; Yates et al., 2018).

Blackburn, C. (2020a). Family members' perceptions of a Singing Medicine project in a children's hospital. Nursing Children and Young People, 32(1), 23–29.

‍Blackburn, C. (2020b). Music-making for hospitalized children and their families: A qualitative thematic analysis of Music-Making Sessions in a UK children’s hospital. Music and Medicine, 12(1), 45–56.

‍Bush, A. M., O'Malley, A., & Peterson, B. M. (2021). Music therapy as an adjunctive treatment in the management of stress for patients being weaned from mechanical ventilation. Journal of Music Therapy, 58(1), 14–36.

‍Colwell, C. M., Edwards, R., & Hernandez, E. (2013). The use of music therapy in pediatric oncology: A case review. Music Therapy Perspectives, 31(2), 162–166.

‍Giordano, F., Rutigliano, C., De Leonardis, F., Rana, R., Neri, D., Brienza, N., & Santoro, N. (2021). COVID-19 and absence of music therapy: Impact on mother-child dyad during invasive procedures in pediatric oncology. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 75, 101839.

‍Grebosz-Haring, K., & Thun-Hohenstein, L. (2018). Music therapy for children and adolescents. European Journal of Pediatrics, 177(6), 919–923.

‍Preti, C., & Welch, G. F. (2011). Music in a hospital setting: A multifaceted experience. British Journal of Music Education, 28(3), 329–345.

‍Sundar, S. S., Kim, J., & Zhang, B. (2016). Music for pain relief: Effects on pain intensity and perceived control over pain. Journal of Music Therapy, 53(4), 441–459.

‍Uggla, L., Mårtenson Blom, K., Bonde, L. O., Gustafsson, B., & Wrangsjö, B. (2019). An explorative study of qualities in interactive processes with children and their parents in music therapy during and after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Yates, T., Stanyon, M. R., & Sampson, E. L. (2018). The role of music therapy in the care of hospitalized children: A systematic review of literature. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 43, 45–52. 

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We are excited to launch the Arts in Health Netherlands (AiHN) website! Our graphic identity, our publications, and our website were all developed by the Den Haag design agency JUST. 

The idea of participation inspired the design process. “Arts in health is a whole continuum of practices, and participation is key to them all,” says AiHN Director of Science and Education Ferdinand Lewis. “Participation is what makes creativity good for you, when you say ‘Yeah, okay, I’ll jump in, I’ll try that.”  

But how to approach AiHN’s identity and website with that core idea in mind? “We knew we needed professional design, but we also needed to find designers who understood the spirit of arts in health”, Lewis adds. 

After a long search, the design firm JUST was chosen. “These are experienced designers with serious corporate clients, but they also have this commitment to the public interest,” Lewis says. “Plus, everyone on the team is quite passionate about how arts in health works, and how to embody it.”

The team concluded that the experience of using the website, for instance, “Should not be only about consuming information” according to designer Tizian Fendt, “but instead should be like participating in a conversation”. 

The website design invites its users into the participatory experience of drawing on the landing page, also interacting with the site’s page layouts and color palette, and organising information it is most useful to the user. Fendt adds that the website rewards inquisitive users with ‘easter eggs’ ––like the ticklish AiHN logo. 

Lewis concludes, “The field of arts in health is a balance between healthcare and art, and the balance point is active engagement. The feel of the website is an invitation to experience a bit of that.” 

In her thesis, Emma Schönborn studied how the youth creativity programme Digital Art Factory (DAF), uses creativity to support the wellbeing of teenagers at three locations in Assen, Gieten, and Appingedam. Launched in 2016, today DAF is a successful and highly valued programme in its communities. 

Modeling the programme

DAF’s early success was due to inspiration, intense creativity, and the hard work of its staff. It was not, however, guided by a clearly defined programme model. “The program had always operated intuitively, but without a clear structure,” Schönborn explains. “So it was difficult for them to evaluate or replicate the program,” she explains. In 2024, DAF’s directors wanted to prepare a strategy for the organisation’s future, and they turned to Schönborn to investigate the program’s workings. 

Schönborn used methods from the ‘research-based programme evaluation’ field to interview staff, review programme documents, and observe the instructors (called “coaches”) at work. In her fieldwork she found that inspiration, creativity, and collaboration were at the heart of the program: “The instructors prioritise collaboration between the participants, and autonomy, over traditional instruction,” she explains, adding that participants “can engage with others and explore their mutual interests without fear of judgment”. Each participant sets their own learning goals and works at their own pace, pushing their imagination as far as they can. 

Using the data, Schönborn developed a detailed ‘logic model’ of the programme that articulated how DAF’s inputs —skilled coaches, creative equipment, and partnerships— and its creative process, lead to enhanced social skills and emotional well-being for young people. She existing social scientific literature on mental health and creativity to inform the study. “The DAF program model is particularly effective at fostering creativity, and it also provides a foundation for social and emotional development in its participants,” she asserts. 

A case study for organisations

The study, titled, Modeling a Youth Creativity and Engagement Programme for Mental Health: A Case Study of the Digital Art Factory was part of Schönborn’s 2024 thesis for University College Groningen. She hopes that the research and the programme modeling method will not only help DAF, but also other small arts-based community organisations that need to develop an evaluation strategy, or make plans for extending or expanding a programme. 

“With a programme like this, it’s all about the creative process,” she says, concluding, “That encourages young people to find a sense of control, feel less isolation, and make social connections.”

Five artists collaborate with UMCG staff on participatory, care-focused art projects

Since February 2025, five artists have been working with the medical centre staff on participatory, care-focused art projects in different departments of the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG). The artists’ aim is to co-create participatory art projects to support the wellbeing of staff. The project reflects the UMCG’s core value, See the person (Zie de mens).

The pilot is an initiative of Arts in Health Groningen (AiHG) in collaboration with UMCG and theatre company PeerGroup.

Why this pilot?

Arts in Health is a growing field in which trained artists use creative methods to contribute to the wellbeing of healthcare workers and patients, and to promote healthy living. Arts in Health does not replace care, but supports it.

This pilot focuses on healthcare staff, in response to the pressures of modern healthcare—workload, technological focus, and compassion fatigue—the projects aim to create space for connection, inspiration, and to develop meaning in the work environment.

Five artists, five departments

AiHG worked with five UMCG departments to recruit and train five artists with part of five departments for a period of five months:

• Morgan Ton, multidisciplinary artist & filmmaker → Beatrix Children’s Hospital
• Anne Varekamp, spatial designer & visual artist → Communication & Marketing
• Emma Berentsen, performance-maker & dramaturg → Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery
• Eva Koopmans, relational artist & designer → Spiritual Care
• Wiesje Gunnink, artist & arts educator → Orthopedics

Pilot phases 

During Phase 1 (February–July 2025), artists got to know the staff of their UMCG department, exploring ideas and building connections with creative activities. Together, the artists and staff developed creative projects that reflect the unique context and culture of each department.

Phase 2 started in (October–November 2025). During this phase, the focus will shift to deepening and presenting the experience of art-making and ‘seeing the person’. 

Throughout both phases, the artists, programme makers, coordinator, and researchers have met regularly in a learning community. These sessions provided space for reflection, peer support, and shared learning. At the same time, researchers were collecting and analyzing  data to evaluate the pilot's process and impact.

Adrenaline

The second phase included the development of Adrenaline, an interactive audiowalk created in collaboration with Peergroup. Adrenaline brings together creative outcomes from the participating departments and translates the pilot’s themes into a shared, public format. Wearing headphones, visitors move individually through the UMCG and enter spaces that are normally closed to the public. During the walk, the hospital itself functions as a narrative voice, drawing on stories and experiences of staff, patients, and policymakers. In this way, the audiowalk further develops the theme See the person and offers a reflective perspective on care, work, and daily life within a medical centre.

Adrenaline can be experienced at the UMCG from 25 February to 22 March. Tickets are now available.
The audiowalk will be presented alongside the pilot’s evaluation and final report.

Pilot Team

The pilot is led by programme makers Kirsten Krans & Dirk Bruinsma, researcher and trainer Ferdinand Lewis, pilot coordinator and researcher Nina van den Berg, and student assistant Twan Tromp.

Steering Committee

Strategic guidance and supervision are provided by the UMCG steering committee, chaired by Michiel Kahmann. Members: Barbara van Leeuwen, Hanneke van der Wal-Huisman, Jaap Tulleken, Bertrand de Jong, Edwina Doting, Joke Fleer, and Mark Dessing.

Pilot Partners

UMCG, University of Groningen, Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, Peergroup, and Nationaal Programma Groningen.

Buur & Boek is a pilot project by NOORDWOORD and Arts in Health Groningen, focused on the joy of reading and writing in the hearts of four local communities. From October 2025 to March 2026, residents from different neighbourhoods and villages across the province of Groningen come together with trained group leaders, to read, write, talk, and reflect on short stories, poems and novels.

The goal of the project is to use reading and writing to inspire connection and care in the communities, and encouraging new groups to form. The five groups meet bi-weekly in the Korrewegwijk, Beijum, Finsterwolde, Noordlaren en Feerwerd. The groups are guided by four workshop leaders who each bring their own unique background and approach to creative reading and writing. No previous literary experience or nor is preparation necessary to join the groups. Participants from a wide variety of backgrounds join in experiencing ‘shared reading’, creative writing, deep listening, and reflective conversations. 

Arts in Health Groningen leads a bi-weekly learning community to support the four group leaders and project coordinator. The learning community involves peer discussion, reflection, planning, and coaching as needed. The group also discusses scientific literature on the health benefits of reading and writing, to inform practice. Self-care is also addressed, and the ethics of community-based work. 

The project creates space for community members to meet one another in new ways. Reading and writing become starting points for reflective conversations, deep attention, and sharing inspiration. Along the way, social connections are built or strengthened. “We meet with neighbours to talk about life through literature and poetry,” one of the workshop leaders explains. “We read and talk, and if people wish, also create. Everything is allowed, nothing is required.” Another workshop leader adds, “It is not about having the same opinion, but about daring to speak and to listen.”

The four workshop leaders, Charlotte Beerda, Gemma Jissink, Lieke van den Krommenacker and Willemijn van de Walle, each bring their own background in literature, performance and community work. Want to know more about who they are?  

At the end of the pilot project, each group will have the opportunity to share what they have created or discovered at a ‘mini-festival’ in each of the four communities. Some may present poems or short stories, others may simply celebrate the conversations and connections that have formed.

For Arts in Health Groningen, Buur & Boek is part of a broader programme of using the arts to encourage  reflection, dialogue, and social connection in support of well-being. By creating spaces where people can meet around shared curiosity and creativity, Buur & Boek helps build a sense of community and imagination in daily life.

Participation in Buur & Boek is free of charge. The project runs from October 2025 to March 2026 and is organised by NOORWOORD in collaboration with Arts in Health Groningen and local partners in each of the four communities.

Want to learn more about research literature and well-being?

The effects of reading on wellbeing have been investigated for decades by researchers from the humanities, social sciences and health sciences. Findings suggest that reading is not only a source of knowledge and entertainment, but also contributes to psychological and social health. Reading fiction is often described as a form of mental simulation that exercises social cognition, empathy, and Theory of Mind [1, 2]. These contribute to people's social and psychological wellbeing. For such effects on wellbeing, it is important that people engage with, and reflect on, what they read [3]. Inspired by such research, shared reading programmes have been used to reduce loneliness, start conversations and strengthen the sense of belonging, especially among people from different backgrounds or generations [e.g. 4; 5].

Expressive and reflective writing—such as diaries, short stories, or letters—can improve both mental and physical health as research in psychology and the health sciences highlights [6, 7, 8]. There is even evidence that points to writing reducing depressive [9] and PTS(D) symptoms [10] and that it allows people to better deal with grief [11]. For writing workshops to support wellbeing, it is important to create a trusting environment[12].

References:

1. Dodell-Feder, D., & Tamir, D. I. (2018). Fiction reading has a small positive impact on social cognition: A meta-analysis. Journal of experimental psychology. General, 147(11), 1713–1727. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000395 
2. Oatley K. (2016). Fiction: Simulation of Social Worlds. Trends in cognitive sciences, 20(8), 618–628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2016.06.002 
3. Carney, J., & Robertson, C. (2022). Five studies evaluating the impact on mental health and mood of recalling, reading, and discussing fiction. PLoS ONE, 17(4), e0266323. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266323
4. Billington, J., Carroll, J., Davis, P., Healey, C., & Kinderman, P. (2013). A literature-based intervention for older people living with dementia. Perspectives in Public Health, 136(3), 139–146. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913912470052 
5. Longden, E., Davis, P., Carroll, J., Billington, J., & Kinderman, P. (2015). Shared reading: Assessing the intrinsic value of literature. Medical Humanities, 41(2), 113–120. https://doi.org/10.1136/medhum-2015-010704 
6. Valtonen J. (2021). The Health Benefits of Autobiographical Writing: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. The Journal of medical humanities, 42(4), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-020-09631-9 
7. Pennebaker, J. W., & Seagal, J. D. (1999). Forming a story: the health benefits of narrative. Journal of clinical psychology, 55(10), 1243–1254. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4679(199910)55:10<1243::AID-JCLP6>3.0.CO;2-N
8. Toepfer, S. M., & Walker, K. (2009). Letters of gratitude: Improving well-being through expressive writing. Journal of Writing Research, 1(3), 181-198. https://doi.org/10.17239/jowr-2009.01.03.1 
9. Reinhold, M., Bürkner, P.-C., & Holling, H. (2018). Effects of expressive writing on depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 25, e12224. https://doi.org/10.1111/cpsp.12224
10. Pavlacic, J. M., Buchanan, E. M., Maxwell, N. P., Hopke, T. G., & Schulenberg, S. E. (2019). A meta-analysis of expressive writing on posttraumatic stress, posttraumatic growth, and quality of life. Review of General Psychology, 23(2), 230–250. https://doi.org/10.1177/1089268019831645 
11. Den Elzen, K., Neimeyer, R. A., & Lengelle, R. (Eds.). (2024). Living with loss: From grief to wellbeing (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003460657 
12. Wiltshire, K. (2022). Using the short story as a tool for well-being in arts and health workshops for the NHS staff. Short Fiction in Theory & Practice, 12 (The Health of the Short Story: Part 2), 203–218. https://doi.org/10.1386/fict_00062_1 

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Willemijn van de Walle | Korrewegwijk

On community: “The group in Korrewegwijk reflects the city: diverse, multilingual and constantly changing. Participants vary in age and background, and bring different relationships to reading and language. Differences are present and openly discussed. Questions raised by the literature — such as where someone really comes from — often open up conversations in which multiple viewpoints exist alongside one another.”

On safe space: “Among the participants there  is a willingness to go beyond the surface. When one member speaks openly, others follow. Through small, attentive gestures — sharing tea, listening without interruption — a safe space develops where personal stories can be told.”

On connection: “Meeting on Tuesday evenings, the group is a place for people to  pause together. People come looking for calm and connection. Together, we use literature and poetry to help focus our attention, and to support moments of genuine encounter.”

Gemma Jissink | Noordlaren

On common interests: “Noordlaren has many overlapping networks. Buur & Boek has added another one: a group of people who connect  through their common interest in stories and poems, and their curiosity and willingness to explore together.”

On engagement: “Many of the participants already know one another, but reading and discussing stories and poems  creates a new kind of closeness.  This closeness is valuable, and at the same time the atmosphere must also remain open and light. People feel involved in the practical aspects of the project, and also in the content, so they stay engaged.”

On shared experience: “In this group, literature is a shared experience for us. Stories and personal reflections continue to emerge and surprise all of us—including me, as the facilitator.”

Lieke van den Krommenacker | Beijum – Feerwerd

On everyday life: “We have a small group of very committed readers who meet regularly. Ages range from early thirties to late seventies. Short stories and poetry provided the starting point for this group, but our conversations now move easily between discussing literature and everyday life.”

On sharing: “Over time, our relationships have deepened. Participants begin to share more of themselves, they exchange books, they offer reading suggestions to each other. Some of our members have started writing, which they share with the group.” 

On care: “After a few meetings, you can see a sense of care emerging in the group. Through shared attention and working together, the group has developed a kind of togetherness, and it becomes more meaningful the more we read and reflect together.”.

Charlotte Beerda | Finsterwolde

On knowing each other: “Many of the participants in the Finsterwolde group have known each other for years. The group is warm, and also has a certain reserve. Personal sharing unfolds slowly, and humour is important in this group, and laughter is common.” 

On vulnerability: “Vulnerability is not something we aim for in the group, but rather the point is being together and sharing. Trust  is more felt than spoken in the group, it is in the atmosphere, and in all the ways they are patient, attentive and appreciative of each other.”

On the unexpected: “Unexpected moments arise: someone shares a poem, or two married people discover they have both started writing, but without the other realising it. These wonderful moments are met with caring and gradually more space opens for writing and sharing, guided by the rhythm of the group.”

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Wiesje Gunnink, visual artist | Orthopedics department 

“At first, the hospital felt like an overwhelming maze. I began by observing, getting to know staff, and finding moments for art breaks. Some weren’t keen to make art yet I soon felt welcome, especially among the doctors, whose openness encouraged collaboration. Working with healthcare staff felt like finding a missing puzzle piece, connecting my artistic practice with my background in a family of care workers. I translated my experiences into poems and visual works, discovering parallels between art and care, such as precision, repetition, and dedication. Together we created by drawing lines without looking, pulling threads, cutting, gluing, and reflecting on how the past, present, and future meet in care”

Emma Berentsen, performance artist | Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary surgery department

“At the start of the project, I shadowed different people from the HPB department, from observing liver transplants to joining nurses in their patient meetings. I quickly learned how flexible everyone had to be with their time and decided to claim ten minutes in the weekly team meetings for my own artistic moments, which I called Emma’s Dilemmas. Finding time and space for art wasn’t always easy, and in the beginning, I sometimes felt unnecessary among people with “real” jobs. But as I grew closer to the team, I felt more at ease. Watching a liver transplantation struck me as an artwork in itself, the precision, rhythm, and silent collaboration between surgeons almost felt like a choreography. Seeing everyone create blackout poems together was one of the highlights of the project. In those moments, I noticed small signs of connection and vulnerability as people revealed something of themselves beyond their professional roles.”

Eva Koopmans, relational artist and designer | Spiritual Care department 

“Chaplains occupy a unique position in the hospital: one of great freedom and of deep attentiveness to the humanity of each patient. Initially, I had expected to accompany them during patient visits, but for privacy reasons that wasn’t possible. This felt limiting at first but then became a source of inspiration. I realized that their work often goes unnoticed within the hospital structure, they are literally and figuratively invisible. Once, I even went on a small quest through the hospital to find their workspace, only to discover that few people knew where it was. That invisibility became central to the project: how could we make their work visible and tangible? We are now creating an artistic representation of the safe space they build with patients—a space where everything can be said and nothing has to be solved. I’ve come to feel at home within the hospital, part of a team whose quiet presence spreads like ink in water” 

Morgan Ton, visual artist and filmmaker | Beatrix Children’s Hospital 

“I began by shadowing nurses, physicians, and palliative care professionals to understand their workload, rhythms, and perspectives on care. This helped me shape an arts-based project that would not interfere with their routines and could unfold through their own initiative. My aim was to bring a sense of playfulness and enjoyment into their busy workday. What truly struck me was how strict many staff members were about their own creativity. So in the first activity, I invited them to draw themselves, or a colleague, as a child might: using bright colours and imagination, creating space for art that did not need to be ‘perfect’. The drawings that emerged were surprising and full of play. This activity also sparked curiosity about how patients perceive their caregivers. That led to a second assignment in which staff asked patients to draw them. I was often present during these drawing moments, and it was moving to see how such a simple request created moments of connection, distraction, and joy. It encouraged caregivers to sit with patients without a medical reason, and to experience a shift in roles by becoming the ones observed.”

Anne Varekamp, designer and visual artist | Marketing and Communication Department 

“In the communications department, I’ve been exploring how creativity can ease work pressure without disrupting daily routines. We found that short, pre-planned creative sessions worked best. At first, many employees were hesitant, saying things like “I can’t do this,” but by the end of the sessions, their attitudes often shifted completely. These workshops became moments of connection, and word soon spread that they were fun, relaxing, and a great way to meet colleagues from other teams within the same department. Often staff felt too busy or didn’t see the value at first, but over time, curiosity drew more people in. The process took patience as I was keen on letting it happen organically. For me, the conversations during the workshops were the most powerful aspect. People felt safe enough to open up, not only about work, but also about personal things. And for me as an artist, it was deeply rewarding to see participants surprise themselves with their own creativity.” 

Curious about what books are out there in the field of arts in health? Below is a short list of popular and academic books to get you started. These introduce the research, practice, and inspiration for Arts in Health, from authors around the world — from designing interventions to understanding how creativity supports wellbeing. Whether you’re an artist, researcher, healthcare professional, or simply curious about how art and care intersect, these books invite you to explore, learn, and connect. If you have any suggestions for books that should definitely be included, please let us know!

Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health | Daisy Fancourt, 2025 

In her latest book  Daisy Fancourt, presents the latest scientific evidence on how the arts and creativity contribute to health and wellbeing. It explores how engagement with the arts can support mental and physical health outcomes across different clinical contexts, and highlights global challenges faced by the arts sector. Art Cure invites readers to reconsider the role of the arts, not as a luxury, but as an essential part of individual and societal wellbeing. 

I Heard There Was a Secret Chord, Music as Medicine | Daniel J. Levitin, 2024 ‍

In I Heard There Was a Secret Chord, neuroscientist and best-selling author Daniel J. Levitin explores the powerful relationship between music and healing, inviting readers to see music not only as art, but also as a form of care. Levitin draws  on research from neuroscience and music therapy, arguing for how music can ease suffering, promote recovery, and calm the mind. The book  connects scientific findings with stories of the experiences of  musicians and patients, illustrating how rhythm and sound support mental and physical health. A fascinating read for anyone interested in the science and art of music as medicine. 

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us | Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross, 2023

Your Brain on Art explores the emerging field of NeuroArts—the study of how the arts and aesthetic experiences can change the body, brain, and behaviour. The authors show how creativity affects our biology and emotions, supporting health, wellbeing, and learning. Through stories from artists and scientists, this book invites readers to see the arts not as a luxury, but as an essential part of being human. Learn more at yourbrainonart.com.

Designing and researching interventions | Daisy Fancourt, 2017 

Authored by one of the leading academics in the field, Designing and Researching Interventions provides a great introduction to the history, research, and practice of Arts in Health. Whether you are building an Arts in Health program, developing a research design, or want to understand the meaning of quality in this field, Designing and Researching Interventions will be a useful guide. 

Arts, Health and Wellbeing | Edited by Stephen Clift and Theo Stickley, 2008

Arts, Health and Wellbeing, offers many useful descriptions and examples from the field of arts in health. The book  covers topics such as arts on prescription and music therapy, for example, exploring their application in both hospital and community settings. If you are a researcher, or a practitioner in the field, or simply looking to learn more about the growing dialogue around arts and health, this book could be a valuable resource. 

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