Art and culture not only enrich society, but also contribute to physical and mental wellbeing, by reducing the pressure on health services. A recent study has quantified the economic benefits of cultural initiatives for public health spending, highlighting the close ties between health and culture.
How big an economic impact does cultural engagement have on public health spending?
The tangible impact of art and culture on health has the potential to reduce pressure on health services and improve the efficacy of public investments in health.
Recently, a report entitled Culture and Heritage Capital: Monetising the Impact of Culture and Heritage on Health and Wellbeing explored the links between health and culture, as well as the resulting impact on wellbeing, quantifying the economic benefits of cultural engagement. The research was conducted by Frontier Economics in collaboration with the Social Biobehavioural Research Group at University College London. It was commissioned by the United Kingdom Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of the “Culture and Heritage Capital” (CHC) programme launched in 2021 to monetise the economic, social and cultural benefits of culture and heritage.
The benefits of cultural events
Cultural activities aid cognitive development, help to maintain physical functioning, reduce mental health problems and generally improve wellbeing, working in tandem with the neurological and physiological processes set in motion by pharmacological therapy. And the result? Fewer people resorting to emergency services and a greater impact on public health spending.
The data from the research help to debunk the widely held belief that investments in culture have no economic value.
Professor Daisy Fancourt, head of the Social Biobehavioural Research Group, underlines that “as a society, when we’re thinking about how to shift to preventative models of health, investing in arts and cultural training, activities and community venues should be considered a priority.”
Monetising the impact of cultural activities on health and wellbeing
The report is based on scientific evidence recognised by the World Health Organization, which shows that cultural engagement can help to prevent, treat, and manage physical and mental health problems. It puts forward 13 models that investigate the impact of specific cultural activities on various groups of people.
For each model, the economic benefits of cultural activities were calculated, taking into account improvements in quality of life, optimisation of public health spending and savings on health and social care costs.
One example is the "Arts-based museum activities and general health in older adults” model, which looks at the impact of taking part in activities such as painting and bookbinding, during creative workshops promoted by a museum for 12 weeks. It leads to an improvement in the quality of life for people aged 65 and over, as well as an economic benefit of £1,310 per person per year.
If 25% of weekly museum attendees in this target group participated in museum workshops, the benefits for UK society could add up to £19 million a year. The estimate takes into account the potential reduction in demand for health and social care services resulting from improved general health and well-being in people aged 65 and over.
Looking at adults aged 65 and over once again, weekly participation in a choir for three months has been associated with a reduction in stress and improved mental health. Based on this evidence, the "Choirs and general health in older adults" model estimated an economic benefit of £553 per person per year. For the UK population as a whole, this would mean £170 million a year.
Cultural events for every generation
The "Engagement with cultural venues and depression in older adults" model shows that taking part in cultural events (such as going to the theatre, the cinema or a museum) once or twice a month can reduce the incidence of depression in adults aged 50 and over, with increased productivity at work worth £56 per person per year. On top of this comes an estimated £260 million saving for society, in terms of avoided health care costs.
As for the health of young people, the “Art and self-esteem in children” model assesses the impact of art activities on children between 10 and 14 years of age. Drawing, painting, playing or listening to music most days not only promotes emotional development, but according to the report it also improves self-esteem and mental health, with an estimated economic benefit of between £68 and £134 per person per year, and a society-wide benefit of between £122 million and £162 million per year.
The views expressed in the report are in keeping with another recent study carried out as part of the DCMS CHC (Culture and Heritage Capital) programme, which was based on three core factors: benefits to individuals, health and social care savings and productivity impacts. The studies were cited by The Guardian, which underlined that – according to the data provided in the Frontier Economics report – the majority of the economic impacts of culture on health come about due to people’s improved quality of life.
Health and culture go hand in hand
In conclusion, all of the results highlight the importance of integrating culture in public policies as a strategic means of:
- Improving the health and wellbeing of the population.
- Creating tangible economic value.
- Optimising health spending.
- Increasing productivity in society and at work.
While the interdependence of many factors makes matters complex, monetising these potential benefits enables political decision-makers to take a better-informed approach to investments in culture, bearing in mind that any cuts to funding might put public health at risk, with economic repercussions for both individuals and society as a whole.
A cura di Catterina Seia (Presidente CCW – Cultural Welfare Centre) e Elena Rosica ( Cultural Welfare Center (CCW), Research Area)
