Latvian Academy of Culture Joins International Project on the Impact of Culture on Health and Wellbeing
The Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) has joined the project 'European Culture and Health Hub' (ECHH) as an official partner. Implemented under the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, the project aims to advance an evidence-based understanding of how culture and the arts promote public health, wellbeing, and community resilience.
In recent years, a growing body of international research has confirmed that engagement in cultural and artistic activities positively impacts psychological well-being, social cohesion, and community resilience. Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe indicates that cultural participation can help reduce social isolation, strengthen a sense of belonging, promote mental health, and improve people's ability to adapt to changes and crisis situations. At the same time, the potential of culture within European public health and social welfare policies remains underutilized.
"For Latvia and the Latvian Academy of Culture, this project offers an opportunity to become part of the international process of bridging the cultural and health sectors. Having secured funding in a highly competitive environment, the project brings together Europe’s leading research, education, and policymaking key players in this innovative and inspiring cross-sector, which aims to explore and recall the ways in which cultural participation can strengthen our physical and mental health. I have no doubt that the project will help consolidate and further develop the work already initiated in Latvia regarding cultural and health policy planning, the implementation of initiatives, and the training of specialists," — Inga Surgunte, Research Assistant at the LCA Institute of Culture and Arts and project coordinator for the LCA team.
Within the framework of the project, LCA will contribute to three main pillars of activity:
· Policy Development: Advancing cultural and health policy in Europe by participating in the drafting of recommendations and organizing dialogues with decision-makers;
· Capacity Building: Enhancing professional capacity by designing and piloting a training model for cross-sectoral culture and health specialists in Latvia;
· Dissemination of Results: Organizing promotional events, creating communication content, and producing artistic interpretations to reflect the project's research and policy findings.
To foster closer cooperation between the cultural and health sectors, the project will establish a collaboration hub, ECHub, which will serve as a platform for knowledge and experience exchange. The hub will bring together research, policymaking, and practical experience, providing access to the latest studies, methodologies, data, and best practices in the field of culture and health. ECHub will be developed in close cooperation with policymakers, culture and health practitioners, researchers, and local communities to ensure that the project's outcomes address societal needs. The project also aims to map existing evidence on the positive impact of culture on health and well-being, identify areas requiring further research, and formulate recommendations for policymakers at the European Union, national, regional, and local levels.
The project is coordinated by the Turku University of Applied Sciences in Finland. The consortium includes partners from Finland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Latvia, Austria, Romania, and Denmark. The implementation of the project is also supported by associate partners, including UNESCO, United Cities and Local Governments, Arts + Health Ireland/Réalta, the Secretariat of the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture, the Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Wellbeing, and other international organizations.
The Project "European Culture and Health Hub – ECHH" has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101286497.
Project information on the LAC website:
Project coordinator at the LAC:
Inga Surgunte, Research Assistant
LAC Institute of Culture and Arts
inga.surgunte@lka.edu.lv | +37129953235