Arts on Prescription in the Nordic countries

The project Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region, co-funded by the Interreg BSR programme 2021-2027, has developed a generic concept model for implementing AoP-activities on a municipal level that is adaptable to different local circumstances and resources and aligns well with the focus on mental health of The Norwegian National Strategy for Reducing Social Health Inequalities.

The Arts on Prescription in Norway project - financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services - will explore how to develop, adapt and integrate the concept in the Norwegian healthcare system. The first step will be to identify relevant stakeholders who will learn from the experience of Interreg AoP project partners as well as Region Skåne in Sweden, who has a decade long experience from and research on AoP.

In addition, the plan is to invite actors from Estonia, Lithuania, Iceland and Greenland – countries that have not yet tested “Arts on Prescription” approach.

Expected outcomes:

• Ongoing cooperation between Norway, the “AoP in the BSR” project and Region Skåne
• An analysis of the suitability of the AoP programme concept for Norwegian municipalities and its potential to be embedded in the Norwegian Health Care system
• A workshop in Norway on arts and health interventions, introducing AoP and other models using examples from the UK, Finland and Sweden
• Identification of Norwegian municipalities as AoP piloting sites in second project year
• Detailed workplan for second year of project activities including piloting in Norway and extension of project activities to Iceland, Estonia, Lithuania and Greenland, if feasible.

The seminar Arts on Prescription in the Nordic countries - organised by Norwegian Resource Centre for Arts and Health, Norway, NDPHS Secretariat, Sweden and Region Skåne, Sweden - will shed light on international research and practical experiences from Arts on Prescription projects in diverse Nordic Regions and discuss political steps-to-be-taken for a long-term implementation of Arts on Prescription approaches in national health promotion.

Participation is by invitation only. More information on the project: https://ndphs.org/our-work/projects/arts-on-prescription-in-norway/