Mapping the Discourse on the Health-Promoting Impacts of Community Arts

Abstract

Art-making and creative expression are powerful tools for personal and social learning, growth, and transformation. This rationale is at the essence of the practice of community arts (CA). CA have been defined as artistic activity based in a community setting and characterized by dialogue and co-creation with the community. CA initiatives are increasingly being understood as “whole person” approaches for improving health at individual and community levels, drawing on holistic conceptualizations of health that are not just physical or disease-specific, but rather emphasize broader concepts of mental and social well-being. CA programs cite goals ranging from improving the social and emotional well-being of participants to promoting civic dialogue and community building. A growing body of literature seeks to substantiate the health-promoting impacts of arts initiatives. This work, however, has been hampered by complexities of practice and by contention regarding what constitutes the best or most valid forms of evidence. This chapter explores the discourse on the health-promoting impacts of CA, seeking to map current knowledge and debate in relation to CA and impacts on social determinants of health, in the English language literature.

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