Arts in Public Health: Advancing Health Equity through Arts and Culture

Arts in Public Health explores how creative practices can advance population health, strengthen communities and support equitable well-being. Designed as a six-module, self-paced course, it provides a blend of research, real-world examples and applied activities that invite learners to connect ideas to practice.

The approximately 15-hour course begins with an overview of the ways arts engagement aligns with public health priorities such as mental health, social connection and health equity. Participants will learn about the growing evidence base that demonstrates the impact of arts participation on individual and community health outcomes, as well as the policy and practice frameworks that guide this work. Each module combines multimedia materials and interactive prompts for reflection alongside tools to apply the concepts in meaningful ways.

By progressing through the modules, learners will gain insight into the “how” of arts in public health — how to design arts-based programs with measurable outcomes, how to communicate their value to stakeholders and how to collaborate across sectors to address public health challenges. Whether course participants are artists, public health professionals, educators or community leaders, this course will build confidence in bridging creative practice with health promotion.

The aim of Arts in Public Health is not only to provide knowledge, but also to build capacity for action. By the end of the course, drawing inspiration from evidence-based and practice-informed approaches, participants will be prepared to imagine, design and implement arts-based initiatives that meaningfully contribute to healthier communities.