Arts on Prescription in Cēsis / Latvia

Museums and Heritage Sites in Focus

The #ArtsOnPrescription programme in Latvia is organised by Cēsis Municipality. As a continuation of the More Light! project launched in 2022, the municipality further developed the approach to the Museum on Prescription programme in close cooperation with local museums and heritage sites as well as local artists and craftspeople.

The programme, aimed at adults experiencing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress, or loneliness, featured a wide range of art and cultural activities from guided museum tours, theatre, music workshops, visual arts, traditional crafts, poetry to creative writing.

© Lelde Goba

Referring institutions included employment services and social, health and rehabilitation centres, such as the Cēsis Clinic, Cēsis Municipal Social Services, and the Senior Home of the Līgatne Rehabilitation Centre. Self-referral was also available for individuals seeking emotional support through non-medical means.

© Lelde Goba

Bringing Value to the Cultural Sector

As a community-based programme, #ArtsOnPrescription (AoP) helps cultural organisations, artists, and craftspeople reach new audiences and tap into fresh market potential. It also equips facilitators and organisations with valuable skills in inclusive practice, mental health awareness, and participatory methods – enabling them to create more accessible and sustainable cultural services for diverse, often underserved target groups. In turn, AoP enhances professional practice and strengthens the sector’s ability to deliver long-term, socially impactful programming.

© Lelde Goba

Building on these foundations, AoP strengthens the cultural sector while advancing broader societal goals. By fostering innovation and resilience,
it underscores the role of arts and culture in supporting community well-being. After a successful pilot phase, Cēsis Municipality is now focused on tranfserring AoP to other municipalities and developing long-term strategies to integrate it into national healthcare systems – showcasing its potential as a scalable, sustainable solution for cultural and public health development.

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Stay tuned on our upcoming Arts on Prescription Guide – an online resource including how-to guides, fact sheets, lessons learned, and audiovisual guidance for link workers, project managers, culture and arts facilitators, and decision-makers. The guide will cover various aspects of setting up, monitoring, evaluating, and financing Arts on Prescription programmes.

Programme Manual Online

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