The experiences of the capitals

The Leeds Alliance for Health and Wellbeing Network (LAHWN) is a mechanism that supports people working in the arts, culture, health, care and academia to work collaboratively, share ideas and maximise resources. The network was established in 2018 in response to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing (APPG AHW) report “Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing” (2017). LAHWN has a dedicated management group made up of leaders from across the city, drawn from the arts, culture, health, social care, freelance artists and academia.

Can art, culture and creative expressions be considered medicine? Certainly, based on numerous scientific findings, various forms of artistic and cultural expressions, from literature to music to theatre, can help people feel better. While debate on this topic intensifies around the world, there are those who believe that culture and creativity in general can truly be a natural medicine for treating certain conditions.

The topic of youth participation in cultural projects is highly topical. But it is often a theme that, although very frequent, often falls into rhetoric or banality.

The fourteenth Culture Next conference will be held in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, European Capital of Culture in 2018. It is focused on the theme “Cultural Participation” and gathers representatives from 50 European cities and their young representatives (aged 18–27), together with local artists and cultural organizations from Leeuwarden.

In a constantly evolving Europe, Culture Next brings together cities that believe in the power of culture to shape communities, inspire sustainable change, and create legacies that transcend titles. Founded in 2017, the network now unites 35 cities across 19 countries, all driven by a shared mission: to turn cultural aspirations into sustainable urban realities.