Mozarteum University Participates in the European Culture & Health Hub
Mental health issues, loneliness and an ageing population present Europe with major social challenges. At the same time, numerous studies show that art and culture can enhance mental wellbeing, foster social cohesion and increase the resilience of communities. The aim is for this potential to play a much greater role in future European health strategies.
Contact
Prof. Dr. habil. Katarzyna Grebosz-Haring, Project Lead
Mozarteum University
katarzyna.grebosz-haring@plus.ac.at
Against this backdrop, the European Culture and Health Hub (ECHH) – a research and innovation project funded by the European Union with approximately €2 million under the Horizon Europe programme (2026–2029) – is being launched. The consortium brings together 20 organisations from 13 European countries, bringing together researchers, cultural institutions, healthcare professionals and policy-makers.
The Mozarteum University is the Austrian project partner and contributes its long-standing expertise at the intersection of music, health, social participation and critical evaluation. The research team analyses and evaluates research findings on arts and cultural interventions, develops recommendations for policy and practice, and works to integrate arts and culture in European health strategies in the long term.
Professor Daisy Fancourt, UNESCO Chair in Arts and Health and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health, emphasises: “Participation in the arts and culture is increasingly recognised as a an important contributor to health and wellbeing. The European Culture and Health Hub will bring together research evidence and help to translate it into programmes and policy measures.”
At the heart of the project is the European Culture and Health Hub (ECHub) – a European platform that brings together research, policy and practice. In collaboration with professionals, policy-makers and local communities, tools are being developed to make research evidence more accessible, identify gaps in research and support the transfer of findings into practice. Pilot projects are also planned in various European regions, as well as capacity-building measures for professionals and organisations.
The project is coordinated by Turku University of Applied Sciences (Finland). Partners include, amongst others, University College London, EuroHealthNet, the University of Porto, the University of Southern Denmark and the Mozarteum University Salzburg.
