I fiori di Asclepio: coltivare il Benessere attraverso la Cultura

The programme focuses on cultural welfare as a framework that integrates artistic, performative, and heritage-based practices into strategies for improving quality of life. Across Europe, such practices are increasingly recognised within national agendas as effective tools for addressing social challenges and public health priorities, thereby supporting policies that connect culture and health.

A growing body of scientific evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of the arts in clinical settings, in prevention, in health education, and in fostering social cohesion. The first WHO Europe report (2019), which analysed roughly 3,000 studies, recommended that policymakers promote artistic engagement and support enabling policy environments. The Work Plan for Culture 2023–2026 and the New European Agenda for Culture 2030 further affirm the strategic value of “cultural crossovers,” particularly those linking culture and well-being.

For cultural welfare to serve as a genuine social and economic lever, it is essential to move beyond fragmented interventions and promote systemic action. The training of health professionals likewise benefits from the integration of the humanities and the arts, as highlighted by the recent issue of the International Review of Psychiatry (2024).

This event forms part of the International Dialogues project, launched in January 2025 to bring together local and international experiences with the aim of improving care services and strengthening community well-being. The programme is designed and coordinated by the Department for Innovation in Health and Social Services.