About the Art & Well-being project
Between October 2019 and December 2021, the Art & Well-being cooperation project explored the potential of the arts to enhance individual and community well-being at local and European level. Its aim was to develop new processes, activities, and networks to support cultural institutions, partnering with other stakeholders like municipalities, care centres, and urban planners across Europe, to create innovative projects, engage new audiences, and raise awareness of the challenges that urban dwelling and a fast-paced contemporary life pose to physical, emotional, and mental health. The project focused on three areas of action: artistic experimentation, research, capacity building and advocacy.
Project partners:
CCC – Cluj Cultural Centre (RO) | Project leader | www.cccluj.ro
Bozar – Centre for Fine Arts (BE) | www.bozar.be
UGM – Maribor Art Gallery (Sl) | www.ugm.si
BKF – Bruno Kessler Foundation (IT) | www.fbk.eu
Purpose of the report
This evaluation report aims to present the main conclusions reached by the consortium organisations and a series of external collaborators of the Art & Well-being (AWE) cooperation project, at the end of its two-year implementation period. It is intended to be a document for the partners, focusing on several qualitative aspects of their work together, as well as with other organisations and individual professionals involved in the project. The document could also provide several valuable insights for other organisations working in the field of art which aim to integrate the well-being dimension in their organisation.
The paper mainly presents the common lessons of the project, but individual organisational experiences are often added to the overall perspective when it was considered that they bring extra value and showcase specific and useful perspectives. The final purpose of the evaluation is to offer a clear overview of the gains and challenges during the project and to facilitate the partners’ understanding and decisions on what could be continued further in each case.
The report is the result of a round table and online discussions with representatives of the project partners – CCC, Bozar, UGM and BKF and an online questionnaire which targeted external collaborators of the project, i.e., artists, professionals, and organisations from the cultural and the non-cultural sectors (healthcare, education, etc.).
The report was prepared by Bianca Floarea, independent expert.
