About the Alliance

The Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance is a free-to-join membership organisation for creative health across England.

We provide networked, collaborative advocacy, support and resources, supporting health and wellbeing for all through creative and cultural practice. We are based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

We work with

Over 7,000 members including freelance creatives, museums, heritage and arts organisations
Strategic partners across culture, health and social care, including close partnerships with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Arts, Health & Wellbeing, the National Centre for Creative Health and the LENs.

The difference we make:

connecting and empowering changemakers in the field
amplifying critical initiatives that demonstrate how creativity and culture addresses health inequalities
conducting research that evidences critical systemic change opportunities
challenging and systemic health narratives by positioning the value of culture and creativity

What is 'culture, health and wellbeing'?

Over recent years, there has been a growing understanding of the impact that creative or cultural activity can have on health and wellbeing. We are currently using the term 'creative health'. Activities can include visual and performing arts, crafts, film, literature, cooking and creative activities in nature, such as gardening; approaches may involve creative and innovative ways to approach health and care services, co-production, education and workforce development. Creative health can be applied in homes, communities, cultural institutions and heritage sites, and healthcare settings. Creative health can contribute to the prevention of ill-health, promotion of healthy behaviours, management of long-term conditions, and treatment and recovery across the life course.

photograph of four people laughing around a table

Board, staff and volunteers

Find out more about:

coloured boxes featuring the words 'our vision, our mission, what we do, how we do it, and outcomes

CHWA's Theory of Change

See the theory of change here

People taking part in the Spaces Between Walk (Creative Recovery) with Barnsley Town Hall in the background

Spaces Between Walk (Creative Recovery); photo by Charlotte Armitage

Contact and organisational details

The Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance CIC is a registered Community Interest Company based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Contact details

Our Partners

We partner with many organisations. Some of our long-term relationships are:

We have a memorandum of understanding with the LENs and the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH)
We work with a large group of Strategic Alliance Members

Access & Wellbeing information

Read our access and wellbeing information here

Vision and mission

Our Vision: A healthy world powered by our creativity and imagination

Our Mission: To work with others to build a common understanding that creativity and culture are integral to health and wellbeing. This approach values equity, prevention and health-creation; is asset-based and holistic; and is communal, collective and co-produced.

To collaborate nationally, regionally and locally to strengthen the collective power of our members and their communities.

How we work

We advocate

Joining the dots between culture, creativity, health and wellbeing
Influencing funders, commissioners and policymakers
Empowering changemakers
Developing the relationship between practice and research

We support local networks

We work with volunteer regional champions around the country to
Support peer networks
Build relationships between culture and health

We provide resources

Information
Training
Peer support

Policies and Procedures

These help us achieve our mission and realise our values.

Funders and supporters

Read about who funds and supports our work here.