Arendalsuka | Art and Culture Make Us Stronger

The Lab joined the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the World Health Organization and Bomuldsfabriken Kunsthall at Arendalsuka, Norway's annual national political festival, for a panel discussion on the role of art and culture in building healthier and more resilient societies.

Art and culture make us healthier. Research from WHO (2019), The Lancet and the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) at NTNU shows how arts and cultural participation strengthen mental, physical and social health. The evidence spans music, theatre and dance to literature and the visual arts, and documents benefits including healthier development in children and young people, improved coping during treatment, and support in rehabilitation and psychosocial recovery.

Despite this, arts and cultural interventions are still not an established part of preventive health work or mainstream health services. Gaps in knowledge, low political priority and global cuts to cultural funding mean that a potential we know exists goes largely unused.

In a period marked by unrest, polarisation and uncertainty, both globally and locally, the need for art and culture is greater than ever. Art and culture create community, strengthen identity and give us a language for understanding one another. They form part of our democratic preparedness: a way of building belonging, resilience and civic engagement.

Held on the Kanalplassen stage on Wednesday 12 August, the session brought together artists, researchers, politicians and international voices to discuss how art and culture can strengthen democratic preparedness, identity, community and belonging. The discussion was moderated by Mala Wang-Naveen, Head of Communications at Talent Norge, and streamed live from the festival.