West Pomeranian Region Showcases ‘Arts on Prescription’ Project to European Commission

On 24 October, the West Pomeranian Region and the Media Dizajn Association were honoured to present the Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region project to Ms Joanna Sterzyńska-Lindberg, Director of the European Commission’s Regional Representation in Poland. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Marshal’s Office of the West Pomeranian Region.

The meeting was also attended by:

• Martyna Gacek-Świecik, representative of the European Commission Regional Representation

• Monika Klein, President of the Media Dizajn Association

• Magda Roman, Media Dizajn Association

• Hanna Wysocka, Media Dizajn Association

• Krzysztof Żarna, Head of the Development Projects and Cooperation with International Organisations Office, West Pomeranian Region

• Aleksandra Filipczak, Development Projects and Cooperation with International Organisations Office, West Pomeranian Region

• Maria Antonina Bystrzycka, a talented photographer and one of the workshop art facilitators from the West Pomerania pilot action in the project

During our presentation, we discussed several key topics, including:

General concept of the Arts on Prescription programme and project outcomes

Aleksandra Filipczak and Krzysztof Żarna elaborated on the core concepts underpinning the Arts on Prescription project. They presented the project’s outcomes, emphasising its goal of using artistic expression as a transformative tool to improve well-being and promote mental health in the Baltic Sea Region and beyond.

Aleksandra Filipczak, Marshall Office of the West Pomeranian Region, presents Art on Prescription to the EU Commissions’ Regional Representation in Poland © photo: Maria Antonina Bystrzycka

One of the project’s key outputs, presented to the European Commission representatives, was the Arts on Prescription online guide for Public Authorities and Professionals to help them understand Arts on Prescription programmes. Developed by a consortium of 13 partners from seven countries and funded by the EU, the guide draws on knowledge and hands-on experience gained from the Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region project. It features insights into the planning, implementation, evaluation, and investment of AoP programmes based on the Baltic Sea model. This extensive resource combines background knowledge, best practices, tools, and evidence-based literature.

Impact of pilot activities

Aleksandra Filipczak and Magda Roman shared insights from pilot activities carried out in three smaller towns in the West Pomerania region and in the regional capital, Szczecin. These initiatives have shown promising results, demonstrating the efficacy of art as a means of building social bonds among young people. Participants provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, revealing a strong correlation between creative engagement and significant improvements in their well-being.

Magda Roman, Media Dizajn Association, shares insights form the Arts on Prescription Pilot Programme in Szczecin © photo: Maria Antonina Bystrzycka

For more information of the Arts on Prescription pilot programme in Poland, please follow the links below:

• Arts on Prescription in Westpomeranian Region
• Arts on Prescription in Szczecin

Experiences of art facilitators

A particularly enriching aspect of the discussion was hearing from the art facilitators, including photographer Maria Antonina Bystrzycka and graphic designer Hanna Wysocka. Their first-hand accounts of guiding participants through art-based journeys toward better mental health provided valuable insights into the process, emphasising the profound and transformative power of art in people’s lives.

Introduction to the ArtWellNet and Back2Woods projects

Representatives of the West Pomeranian Region also presented the ArtWellNet project – co-funded by the SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme. ArtWellNet aims to highlight the potential of Arts on Prescription as an important yet often overlooked tool for addressing the ongoing mental health crisis. The project will establish a collaborative network for sharing knowledge and experiences of Arts on Prescription practices among stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region, the Nordic countries, and Ukraine.

Media Dizajn Association and West Pomerania Region in exchange with Martyna Gacek Świecik, representative from the European Commission’ Regional Representation in Poland © photo: Maria Antonina Bystrzycka

Monika Klein introduced the Back2Woods project, which promotes the therapeutic benefits of engaging with nature and participating in outdoor activities. Financed by the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021–2027, the project emphasises the healing power of nature and its synergy with artistic expression to foster mental health and well-being. More information is available here: https://southbaltic.eu/projects-and-success-stories/back2woods-rediscovering-south-baltic-forests-as-places-for-mental-healing-and-active-recreation/

These two initiatives will support the implementation of the results of the Arts on Prescription project and further develop art-based social prescribing in Poland.

The meeting with the Director of the European Commission’s Regional Representation reaffirmed the significant impact that art and culture can have on mental health, social inclusion, and community cohesion.

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