17/06/2026
This strongly resonates with this year’s Baltic Museology School theme on the Caring Museum (The Museum of Tomorrow: Practices, Empowerment and Care) - a powerful reminder that art can serve not only as content, but as a tool for wellbeing. The Arts on Prescription model fits naturally within this approach, as also demonstrated by several examples from the Baltic region.
Can arts improve mental health? The answer from across the Baltic Sea Region is a resounding yes.
Last week, we brought together experts, policymakers, cultural practitioners, and health professionals for the Arts on Prescription Estonian National Transfer Webinar.
Organized in collaboration with the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region Policy Area Health and VATEK - Eesti Vaimse Tervise ja Heaolu Koalitsioon, the event explored how structured arts and cultural participation can address loneliness, social isolation, and mild-to-moderate mental health challenges and what it would take to bring Arts on Prescription to Estonia.
The webinar was opened by and Ulla-Karin Nurm from NDPHS Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being and Anneli Vares from VATEK - Eesti Vaimse Tervise ja Heaolu Koalitsioon who set the scene for the following discussions.
Here are some of the key takeaways:
💡 The evidence is growing. Nils Fietje from WHO Regional Office for Europe presented research linking arts engagement to better mental health, stronger social cohesion, and healthier communities.
💡 Prevention matters. Maris Jõgeva from the Sotsiaalministeerium highlighted the importance of community-based, preventive approaches exactly what Arts on Prescription delivers.
💡 It works in practice. Ulla-Karin Nurm and Wiebke Seemann from NDPHS Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being showed that across 24 pilot programmes in 5 countries, participants reported reduced anxiety and depression, improved mood, greater self-confidence and, perhaps most powerfully, a sense of belonging and hope 🩵
💡 One setup doesn't fit all. Stine Keiding from Kulturregion Fyn 🇩🇰, Hannah Goebel from Adult Education Center Bremen 🇩🇪, Inga Surgunte from Cēsis. Cēsu novads 🇱🇻 and Marit Stranden from Nasjonalt kompetansesenter for kultur, helse og omsorg 🇳🇴 showed how the model can be adapted to local contexts, always rooted in strong cross-sector partnerships.
🔗 Want to explore the Arts on Prescription model? Visit aop.ndphs.org for the full guide, evaluation report and policy recommendations.
