The conference “Learning to Care: Education and Training in Culture and Health” will take place on the 15-16 October 2026, at Riga Stradins University.  The event builds on two EU projects - WITAC* and CARE** -  bringing together artists, health and social care professionals working at the intersection of culture and health, representatives of higher education institutions, mentors, experts and local decision-makers. Together, they will discuss education and training opportunities in the cross-sectoral field of arts, culture and health, in the Baltics and across  Europe. The event aims to support the further development of the culture and health field by exploring and strengthening education and training pathways for professionals across formal, non-formal and informal learning contexts. 

The first day of the conference will focus on existing experiences, gaps and future needs in the field. After an opening keynote and a panel discussion, a dedicated session on academiceducation will look at university-level approaches in the Nordic countries and present the Baltic microqualification course “Culture and Health. Managing Cross-sector Initiatives”, developed within the WITAC project. In the afternoon, the focus will shift to non-formal education, showing how learning in culture and health can take place not only in universities, but also through cultural institutions, festivals, community settings and mentorship. Speakers will present several examples from the fields of festival curation, arts-based self-reflection and care, as well as mental health support and health literacy programmes within museums. Finally – recognising that engaging the wider public is essential for the development of the cross-sectoral field and for better-informed decision-making – the session will conclude with a closer look at the awareness-raising campaign on arts and well-being designed within the CARE project.

The closing policy panel discussion will ask: What do we already have, and what are we still missing in culture and health policies and education in the Baltics? The discussion will bring together representatives from culture, health, education, governments and European networks to reflect on the current situation and identify possible next steps for the region. 

The second day will be dedicated to learning in practice – sharing methods through practical workshops. Participants will explore approaches related to self-care for artists involved in culture and health, creative tools for supporting the mental health of youth, and more. 

Additionally, artistic activities, informal networking, visual testimonies from realised projects and site visits will support reflection and dialogue all throughout the conference.

The conference is organised by the Latvian Academy of Culture and the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture Secretariat, representing the consortia of the WITAC and CARE projects, co-funded by the European Union. 

*WITAC – Erasmus+ project “Inclusive Wellbeing Through Arts and Culture in the Baltics” is a strategic partnership project that brings together higher education institutions across the Baltic States. By creating an innovative blended lifelong learning programme for professionals in culture, health, and social work, WITAC enhances knowledge and skills in the rapidly developing cross-sectoral field of culture and health. The project also reinforces the role of higher education institutions as contributors to a more equitable and inclusive society, with a particular focus on supporting vulnerable groups through cultural participation and the arts. 

**CARE Mobile Hub is a series of free, festival-like itinerant events organised in different European cities as part of the three-year EU-funded CARE – Culture for Mental Health project (2024–2027). Each Hub has a distinct title and theme, bringing together artists, healthcare professionals, policymakers, social actors, businesses, educators and local communities to explore how arts and culture can support mental health and well-being. Through exhibitions of relevant artworks, cross-sector dialogues and awareness-raising activities, the Mobile Hub creates an open space for exchange, networking and advocacy at local, national and European levels.