Creativity as Mind Care: How Cultural Education Contributes to Resilience and Psychological Wellbeing

In an age marked by global crises, social fragmentation, and rising mental health concerns among young people, cultural education can play a crucial role in supporting psychological wellbeing and strengthening resilience.

The international symposium Creativity as MindCare brings together educators, researchers, and professionals from the fields of arts, education, health, and youth work to explore how artistic and creative processes contribute to the healthy socio-emotional development of children and young people — and how this potential can be more systematically harnessed and supported across Europe.

The symposium will showcase concrete examples and practices from various European contexts and offer opportunities for international as well as interdisciplinary exchange. Please visit the event website for further information on agenda, venue and registration.

In panel discussions, keynote talks, interactive sessions, and through artistic performances, participants will jointly explore the intersections of cultural education, mental health, and children‘s rights.

Central questions include:

• What kind of spaces and frameworks do young people need to feel safe, seen, and supported?
• How can cultural educators be empowered to take on a stronger role in promoting mental wellbeing?
• What tools and methods are already successfully in use — and what remains to be developed?

Our Interreg BSR project Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region will be showcased on 5 December during the Panel Discussion: Loneliness and the role of arts and culture in building community. Stine Keiding, Odense Kommune, Lead Partner of the Interreg BSR project, will provide insights into how Arts on Prescription approaches not only fostery social connection and mental wellbeing but also benefits the cultural field itself – by engaging new audiences, strengthening practitioners’ skills, and developing more inclusive cultural experiences.

The event is part of the project MindCare – Mental Health in Cultural Education, Promotion of Mindfulness, Resilience and Empowerment organised by the Bundesvereinigung Kulturelle Kinder- und Jugendbildung (BKJ) in cooperation with the Kenniscentrum voor cultuureducatie en amateurkunst (LKCA). It is funded by the European Union.