Conference Highlights Next Steps for Strengthening Cooperation Between Culture and Health Sectors in Latvia

On 15 October, the international conference “Culture and Health: Building Resilient Cross-Sectoral Cooperation in Latvia” took place at the Cēsis Concert Hall (Cēsis, Latvia) and online. The event brought together policymakers, researchers, practitioners from the cultural, health, and social sectors, as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations. After learning from the experiences of other European countries and taking part in art workshops, participants discussed next steps to ensure that culture becomes an integral part of the health promotion system in Latvia.

The conference was organized by the municipalities of Cēsis and Saldus, marking the conclusion in Latvia of the project Arts on Prescription (AoP) in the Baltic Sea Region 2023-2025. Within this project, the Arts on Prescription model – originally developed in the United Kingdom – was adapted for the Baltic Sea region. The model enables health and social care professionals to refer individuals to cultural and artistic activities that help strengthen mental health and well-being. The aim of the conference was not only to present the project’s results but also to promote lasting and sustainable cooperation between the culture and health sectors across Latvia.

In a policy workshop led by the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being (NDPHS) Secretariat, participants identified the creation of coordination contact points – both at municipal and national levels – as the first and most important step toward lasting collaboration between the culture and health sectors. Two developments associated with the conference signaled positive progress in this direction. At the conclusion of the conference, the establishment of the NGO Culture and Health Latvia was announced. The organization brings together professionals from culture, health and social sectors with the aim of promoting sustained and high-standard cross-sector collaboration in Latvia and engaging with the international culture and health community. Registered in Cēsis Municipality at the Eduards Veidenbaums Museum Kalāči, the NGO’s initial tasks will include ensuring the continuation of the Museums on Prescription programme developed during the project, as well as organizing educational and networking events to strengthen the emerging Culture and Health community in Latvia.

Following the conference, a meeting was held in Riga between representatives of the Ministries of Culture and Health and Nils Fietje, World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe, Technical Officer on Culture and Health within the Behavioural and Cultural Insights (BCI) Team. The discussion focused on opportunities and solutions for developing cross-sectoral policies and projects in Latvia, with inter-ministerial dialogue expected to continue in the near future.

A second strategic focus highlighted during the conference was education, public awareness, and research. This theme was emphasized in the closing panel discussion, which brought together representatives of the Ministries of Health and Culture, the Latvian Academy of Culture, and Riga Stradiņš University. Panelists agreed on the need to raise awareness among the general public and decision-makers about the contribution that cultural participation makes to health. This understanding should be built on the long-term implementation of local Culture and Health programmes and the collection of locally relevant research data.

In this context, a collaborative project between researchers at Riga Stradiņš University and Saldus Municipality is noteworthy. The project aims to analyze residents’ needs and experiences in the field of mental health, as well as the potential of cultural activities to address those needs. On a national level, discussions also addressed the importance of conducting population surveys and collecting statistical data on the impact of cultural participation on public health.

Overall, the conference provided an opportunity to learn about the international context and other countries’ experiences in the field of culture and health, to summarize existing progress and challenges in developing this cross-sectoral field in Latvia, and to agree on the key steps needed in the near future.

For more details, see the conference video recordings and the summary of the final discussion.

Conference video recording in Latvian:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UK0aHVCIwU

Conference video recording in English:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtc3qSd6u4c

The conference was one of the closing events in Latvia of the project Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region 2023–2025, co-financed by the European Union (ERDF) under the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme.

Contact Information

Inga Surgunte
Project Lead in Cēsis Municipality
Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region 2023–2025
inga.surgunte@skaidrs.org
+371 29953235

Andra Kauliņa-Ostrovska
Project Lead in Saldus Municipality
Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region 2023–2025
andra.kaulina-ostrovska@saldus.lv

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