ONLINE LECTURE AND DISCUSSION: What is the Current State of Evidence in Arts and Health, and the Value of Lived Experience, Narrative Testimony, and Case Studies

Part of the lecture series Music and Medicine

Lecture 1: Stephen Clift, Canterbury Christ Church University, United Kingdom
The Need for Critical Appraisal of Arts and Health Research

The last twenty-five years has seen a remarkable growth of research on the potential contribution of arts, music and cultural engagement for health and wellbeing. A consensus has emerged that both receptive and active involvement in arts, music and cultural activities is good for our general wellbeing and our mental and physical health.  Nevertheless, there is need for caution, and in this presentation, I will argue that it is essential that we approach such claims with an appropriate degree of scepticism. I will present findings from recent exercises in the critical appraisal of primary studies, cited in recent major evidence reviews. The results show that exaggerated claims have been made for the effectiveness of arts interventions for health.

Stephen Clift is Professor Emeritus, Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health, Canterbury Christ Church University / Visiting Professor, International Centre for Community Music, York St John University / Visiting Professor, School of Music, University of Leeds / Professorial Fellow, Royal Society for Public Health

Lecture 2: Eva Schurig, University of Oldenburg, Germany
Case Studies as Evidence in Arts and Health Research?

In 2023, the National Centre for Creative Health (UK) published the Creative Health Review aiming to show best practices of arts initiatives across the UK to support implementation of creative health by policymakers. The authors emphasize the focus on evidence and rely heavily on case studies to illustrate these best practices. In her talk, Dr Schurig will examine these case studies and the evidence provided for them from an academic perspective, as well as the usefulness of this evidence for policymakers.

Eva Schurig is a postdoctoral research assistant at the Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg. Her experiences cover qualitative as well as quantitative research in areas such as mobile music listening, musical activities of young people or hearing health. She is part of the editorial board of the Yearbook of Music Psychology and the journal MAiA.

Commentators:
Nicole Holt, University of the West of England – UWE, Bristol, , United Kingdom
N.N.

In English

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Organization: Katarzyna Grebosz-Haring and Stephen Clift

This webinar is the second from the Webinar-Series organized by International Network for the Critical Appraisal in Arts and Health Research (INCAAHR). The series brings together leading researchers, artists, and clinicians internationally to explore both the strengths and limitations of arts in health and of current evidence for the value of arts in health, and to assess the extent of evidence-based arts-for-health practice. The aim is to foster a transdisciplinary and rigorous discussion on what the arts can realistically contribute to wellbeing and health and how to advance future research, policy, and practice development.
In cooperation with Salzburg Institute for Arts in Medicine (SIAM).

The Salzburg series Music & Medicine presents scientific and artistic contributions from leading international experts in various disciplines to explore the interactions and mechanisms between the experience, processing and psycho-physiological impact of music on humans and to understand how music may promote health and wellbeing.