KulturKraft in Odense

KulturKraft in Odense – A Culture on Prescription Programme for Mental Well-being

Odense Municipality successfully implemented KulturKraft (arts on prescription) pilot programme in 2024 – an innovative cultural initiative aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of young people and adults through shared creative experiences. KulturKraft showcases how culture promotes social cohesion and mental wellbeing among participants.

From Concept to Community: The Journey of KulturKraft

Culture on Prescription and KulturKraft are designed for people experiencing mild to moderate stress, anxiety, depression, or loneliness, the programme offers participants a space to engage in cultural and artistic activities such as music, visual arts, storytelling, crafts, and theatre.

KulturKraft programme in Odense as part of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project “Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region” (2023–2025), ran three pilot rounds in 2024, each tailored to meet the needs of different groups:

• First round (March 2024): New Danish residences 24 – 40 years, referred via Danish integration, language & work institution.
• Second round (September 2024): Men of all ages, referred by the local Men’s Crisis Centre.
• Third round (also September 2024): Young people aged 16–30, once again referred by mental health and youth support organisations.

Real Impact: The Arts as a Path to Connection and Confidence

The first KulturKraft round, which concluded in spring 2024, welcomed 14 young participants – many of whom were newcomers to Denmark. The programme’s twice-weekly sessions over eight weeks provided a safe and creative space for engagement, learning, and community-building.

Participants shared how the programme impacted their lives:

“Every meeting made me happy in a different way.”

“Being part of KulturKraft has given me new friends and taught me a lot about culture and crafts that I didn’t know before. I learnt a lot about Odense City and the old town. I am so grateful for this wonderful journey we have been on together.”

Following the success of the spring pilot, two new KulturKraft rounds began in September 2024. The programmes were designed for the specific target audiences (men and youths). Having implemented all three pilot programmes, it is evident that culture programmes such as KulturKraft can be adapted to meet the needs of different target audiences promoting social connection, self-worth and self-esteem. KulturKraft participants have expressed they have an increase in mental wellbeing and a larger sense of social belongingness after participating in KulturKraft programme.

A mental free Room through Creative Processes

Each KulturKraft cycle offers a diverse number of culture activities, featuring hands-on workshops and cultural experiences:

• Visual Arts: Guided sessions exploring photography and classical art, as well as opportunities to create personal works in collaboration with the art museum.
• Crafts: Textile workshops enhancing tactile exploration and expression through embroidery and sewing.
• Storytelling: Shared reading experiences promoting literature discussions.
• Theatre: Exploring performance arts through immersive and live performances.
• Music: Interactive sessions led by music professionals, focusing on participation and shared enjoyment rather than performance ability.

Importantly, no prior artistic experience is required, making the programme accessible and inclusive to all.

Building on a Regional Vision

KulturKraft is not the first time Odense Municipality is using culture as a social and health initiative.

Odense’s KulturKraft programme builds on the foundations of Funen’s Culture on Prescription. From 2022 to 2023 Cultural Region Funen initiated a larger Culture on Prescription programme across a network of nine municipalities on the island of Funen, funded by a culture agreement with the Danish Ministry of Culture.

Watch the short documentary about Culture on Prescription and hear directly from participants and facilitators. [external YouTube link]

Both Culture on Prescription and KulturKraft demonstrated the positive effects of engaging in culture as a form of non-clinical support for mental health.

Culture on prescription evaluation conducted in 2023 by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark’s Department for the Study of Culture confirmed these benefits – highlighting that participants reported increased well-being, reduced stress, and stronger social connections. The evaluation has given rise for Odense Municipality to continue to offer culture to persons with or at risk of developing mental ill-health through KulturKraft programmes.

“Cultural Region Funen has already piloted a number of Arts on Prescription programmes within the region, targeting citizens struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, or isolation. Evaluations show that this approach is beneficial in helping people. […]
We are glad to share our experiences in this field and help develop more projects. We hope, through this collaboration, not only to share our experiences but also to gain new insights and perspectives that will enable us to further improve our model. This will, in turn, help us continue to develop and improve our programmes to better serve the community.”
— Anne Møllegaard, Chairman of Cultural Region Funen

Continuation Secured!

In a major boost for youth mental health and social inclusion, seven municipalities on the island of Funen have been awarded 7 million DKK (approx. €940,000) by the Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces to launch the project Fynsk KulturRum – Fællesskab og frirum – fynske unges fremtid (Fynsk KulturRum – Community and Breathing Space – the Future of Young People on Funen).

The funding is part of the national Culture Pass Initiative, which supports programmes using culture, sports, and community activities to improve mental well-being, social integration, employment, and education outcomes for vulnerable youth aged 15-24 who are outside the education system and labour market.

Participating municipalities include Odense, Nordfyns, Assens, Nyborg, Kerteminde, Svendborg, and Faaborg-Midtfyn. Their joint proposal was selected as one of only 15 projects funded out of 130 applicants – underlining the initiative’s strong relevance and quality. The grant represents nearly one-fifth of the national funding pool of 40 million DKK.

“This funding enables us to build on the experiences we’ve already gained with culture-based youth programmes in our regional ‘Arts on Prescription’ initiatives,” said Søren Windell, City and Culture Alderman in Odense Municipality. “We can now take the next step in using culture to support vulnerable young people—not only on Funen, but potentially across Denmark.”

The Fynsk KulturRum project will run until the end of 2026, with ongoing knowledge exchange and evaluation among participating municipalities and the national agency.

Programme Manual Online

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