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December 2022

The social value of place-based arts and culture: rapid review and synthesis

The social value of place-based arts and culture: rapid review and synthesis
In partnership with

The Quick Read

We conducted a rapid review of the wellbeing evidence from place-based arts and culture interventions.

We found that targeted museum-based interventions with a volunteering or social prescribing component lead to improvements in subjective and mental wellbeing for people with low wellbeing, particularly when they:

  • are routed in local heritage and/or culture;
  • involve forging connections with others.

We also found that increased cultural participation through mega-events leads to:

  • some temporary effects on happiness and life satisfaction;
  • increases for bridging social capital.

We worked with the Institute for Cultural Capital (ICC), funded by Spirit of 2012 and University of Warwick/Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

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Background

The Study

What we did

What did we find?

Research implications

Recommendations for action

Suggested citation

Downloads

You may also wish to read the blog article on this document.

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