The underlying principle, supported by a growing national and international evidence base, is that group participatory art sessions increase wellbeing, confidence and relaxation, and can reduce or alleviate symptoms associated with common physical and mental health conditions.

This reduction of symptoms and increase of wellbeing enables people to re-engage with their everyday lives, encourages self-management of long term conditions, and reduces costs for the health service.

Artlift uses various methods of quantitative and qualitative evaluation; from questionnaires to focus groups and art. Over the past 12 years we have collected a huge database of evidence (held by the University of Gloucestershire) that shows the positive impact arts in health interventions have.

The APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) on Arts, Health & Wellbeing released their report (Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing) in 2017 after 2 years of research and evidence gathering. Artlift are very proud to have featured in the report, which shows the impact that creativity can have in the health sector.

• 2017 – APPG on Arts, Health and Wellbeing Inquiry Report, Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing

Or for the short report:

• 2017 – Creative Health: The Short Report

The following reports and studies on Artlift are from a range of universities and journals:

• 2008 UWE – Evaluation of ArtLift, A Partnership Arts and Health Project
• 2009-2012 – Simon Opher Cost Benefit Report
• 2011 UoG – ArtLift Evaluation Report Executive Summary
• 2013 Artlift – Project Report
• 2013 UoG – ArtLift (Project Extension) Evaluation Report
• 2013 UoG – Artlift Observational Study from UK General Practice
• 2014 UoG – Artlift Gloucestershire Update Report (2011-2014)
• 2015 UoG – Artlift Wiltshire Final Report
• 2016 PHE – Arts for health and wellbeing – An Evaluation Framework
• 2017 UoG – Artlift Wiltshire Move on Groups Final Report
• 2018 Arts and Health Journal – Light in dark places
• 2018 EJPH – Artlift Updated Findings from Ongoing Observational Study
• 2018 UoG – Flourish Report
• 2019 Sumner et al – Factors associated with attendance, engagement and wellbeing change in an arts on prescription intervention
• 2021 UoG – Arts on Prescription: Observed changes in anxiety, depression, and
  wellbeing across referral cycles.