Research

The UK Network for Arts & Health Research has received funding from LankellyChase to support its development. The funding will enable the Public Engagement Foundation to offer administrative support to the network and will work on devising a national research strategy for arts in health.

The UK Network for Arts & Health Research was founded in 2012. Currently it has 50 members and funding from the Economics & Social Research Council to run a seminar series.

Ixia conducted its second public art survey during autumn 2012 and the findings have now been published. They appear to indicate a decline in public art activity and also highlight concerns around changes to planning policy and a loss of expertise in local authorities.

LAHF has just published a short paper looking at the changing state of health funding for arts activity with, by and for older people in England. Entitled A New Age, the article was commissioned by The Baring Foundation and written by Damian Hebron and Karen Taylor of LAHF.

The latest report on this subject from Arts & Business shows that business investment in 2010/11 fell to £134.2m versus £144.1m in 2009/10. It was the fourth straight annual decline from a peak in 2006/7 of £171.5m.

Other key findings include:
• Overall, private sector investment in the arts rose to £686.6m, around four percent higher than in 2009/10
• The increase was partly due to individual philanthropy rising six percent to £382.2m and giving by Trusts and Foundations growing 10 percent to £170.3m.

The proportion of people engaging in multiple unhealthy lifestyle behaviours has fallen significantly according to a new report on the clustering of unhealthy behaviours over time from The King’s Fund. However, almost all the improvement has been among higher socio-economic and better educated groups, exacerbating health inequalities.

The Audience Agency is a new national organisation with a mission to inspire arts organisations to put audiences at the heart of their work. Evolved from an alliance between All About Audiences, in Manchester, and Audiences London Plus, the new venture will provide advice, intelligence and ideas to any cultural organisation planning to grow and engage audiences.

Central offices in London and Manchester will be supported by a team of Regional Directors and associates, working locally to build relationships, understand needs and deliver services.

a-n The Artists Information Company has published a research paper which forms part of a series that looks specifically at the nature and value of openly-advertised work and opportunities for visual and applied artists.

Arts Quarter has announced the findings from its survey of arts organisations, asking them to comment on the effectiveness of the Government and various agencies to deliver on the Philanthropy in the Arts Agenda - a set of 10 landmark proposals launched in December 2010 by Culture Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt to improve levels of private sector giving to the arts.

In all, some 361 arts organisations of all scales, regions and artforms took part and shared their concerns via an online survey which was conducted from 20 February - 16 March 2012.

A new report from The King’s Fund assesses the ways in which local authorities have begun to develop new arrangements with their partners – the size, composition and ways of working emerging from the shadow Health and Wellbeing boards.

LAHF is planning some research into the barriers, challenges and incentives facing commissioners looking to work with the arts and we are keen to hear from you! We are looking for connections with commissioners (be they from PCTs, Local Authorities, GPs or Acute Settings) in order to find out first hand how we can help improve the opportunities for arts activity to be commissioned in health. So, if you are a commissioner or an arts organisation working with commissioners and would be willing to get in touch as we begin this work, it would be great to hear from you.