New research centre focuses on art and health links

Monday 7 August 2006

In an innovative development, the University of Newcastle has established a research centre dedicated to examining the close links between creativity, and health and wellbeing.

Professor Barney Glover, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), said with an investment of $250,000 over three years, the Centre would meld hard science with art, and make a significant contribution to growing evidence that creativity has a strong role to play in people's health and wellbeing.

"Research indicates that people who are engaged in artistic and cultural pursuits are more likely than others to report better health.

"The Centre will address the growing need to develop culturally rich, sustainable social environments. Targeting key social issues such as ageing and youth suicide, the centre will focus the University's research into health issues that are challenging policy makers across the world.

"This is relatively new territory but one that has enormous public health policy implications both nationally and internationally."

More than 30 projects are already underway at the University ranging from investigating the role nature and surroundings play in people's wellbeing; analysing performance as a survival strategy in prisoner of war camps; assessing art in healing and recuperation; and using creative interventions to build young people's self confidence, self image and connection to community.

"The ArtsHealth Centre brings together a range of projects into a strategic framework that enables the University's creative arts sector to consolidate and strengthen its research activities," Professor Glover said.

"By harnessing the innovative research across the University, our efforts are much more focused and in a stronger position to make a real impact. The ArtsHealth Centre will help put Australia on the map in this dynamic field."

The Centre will be officially launched in October at a public Art Health research forum for researchers, government, industry, key influencers and the community from the art and health sector.

Today's announcement is the first in a series of further planned research developments by the University of Newcastle in education, the arts, business and law.

Media inquiries: Katie Porritt, Coordinator - Media and Public Relations, the University of Newcastle 02 4921 5120 or 0418 445 888.