Securing Funding

Securing long term funding for AoP programmes continues to be a significant challenge. One of the main challenges is to persuade decision-makers such programmes are worth investing in.

Evaluation of AoP programmes have largely focused on health and/or social outcomes, rather than economic outcomes, such as cost-effectiveness of AoP programmes. This has led to increasing evidence revealing AoP programmes promote participants mental health and wellbeing, and thereby promoting societal wellbeing. However, there are also studies regarding utilisation of health services that suggest AoP programmes reduce the use of primary healthcare services, possibly due to positive effects on participants mental health. Such studies can help decision-makers to recognise and support new innovative approaches to healthcare, for example, allocating financial resources to the culture and arts sectors to assist in promoting mental health and wellbeing in local communities.

When presenting AoP programmes added value to decision makers it is essential to convey how different sectors can benefit from AoP programmes and how they can contribute positively to existing policies and strategies areas within the municipality/region. Read more regarding AoP and policies and strategies here.

Arts and culture interventions such as AoP programmes have the ability to: 

• Improve the mental wellbeing of the participants. AoP programmes participants have stated that participating has increased their self-esteem and energy levels, which has helped them to return to work or their educational studies.  
• Prevent mental health problems. AoP programmes can prevent mental health issues, as well as prevent mental health issues progressing in severity. 
• Provide a non-medical approach to mental health care. Some persons may find AoP programmes more appealing than conventional mental health treatment. AoP programmes can be a good supplement to conventional mental health treatment, to provide a comprehensive approach.
• Reduce the burden on healthcare systems. AoP programmes can alleviate primary care services, by reducing visits to general practitioners. Read about AoP and reduction in GP visits here. 
• Substantially contributes to social wellbeing. AoP programmes main focus is on mental health issues, however it is important to acknowledge AoP programmes promote social wellbeing and thereby reduce loneliness. Providing culture and arts activities, allows participants to engage creatively, with others in their local communities. AoP programmes can also enhance ones’ quality of life, foster a sense of belonging, and empower individuals to be active in a meaningful way. 
• Lead to economic efficiency: AoP programmes tend to be cost- effective, as they do not require clinically trained persons, and many communities have existing resources available to set-up an AoP programme. The AoP in the BSR will be assessing AoP cost-effectiveness, these results will be available in 2025. Meanwhile read the UK’s social prescribing economic impact here. 
• Establish a mutually beneficial relationship between the health and cultural sectors. AoP programmes can alleviate healthcare systems by utilizing resources within the cultural sector to promote mental health and wellbeing. For example, cultural activities such as making and listening to music, dancing, art and visiting cultural sites are all associated with stress prevention and stress management. Fancourt, Daisy & Finn, Saoirse. (‎2019)‎. What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being? A scoping review. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/329834. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. Simultaneously, incorporating health promotion programmes into the culture sector introduces new target audiences to culture and the arts, such as persons who may have no previous interest or knowledge of the arts. Additionally, culture and arts facilitators may broaden their professional horizons, by promoting and providing culture and arts activities as health and/or social wellbeing programmes. 

When planning AoP programmes it is advisable to do thorough research of public and private, national, regional, and municipal funding opportunities including the possibility to receive funds through healthcare insurance. This can provide valuable knowledge of funding opportunities for AoP programmes in your region/municipality.

It is worth noting certain municipalities, regional or national funding opportunities focus on testing the feasibility and evaluation of social innovation projects This can create a opening for the development and implementation of AoP piloting programmes. Piloting programmes can present value-added benefits and results, which are vital in persuading decision-makers to allocate further funding to sustain AoP programmes for long-term investment gain. 

AoP programmes funding can be obtained through a single funding source, multiple sources and/or through micro-donations from arts foundations and/or health-oriented funding associations, who may finance different elements of the AoP programmes depending on the fundings sources’, focus areas, and interests. Link to country’s specific funding pathways. Work in progress.

As mentioned in Gaining a strategic overview the AoP programmes should support existing policies and strategies from various sectors, because they can enable or inhibit the planning and execution of the AoP programmes. Depending on existing and/or forthcoming policies and strategies, a co-financing model for AoP programmes could be a feasible opportunity for funding AoP programmes. 

Also, other sectors besides the health and cultural sectors can contribute with financial, personal or in-kind resources. For instance, the civil society and private sector actors should be considered when planning and implementing local AoP programmes. In doing so, all parties have an interest, shared commitment and ownership in the quality, success, and sustainability of local AoP programmes.

Furthermore, the co-financing model can also result in combining sectoral funding with resource contributions as follows:

• Economic contributions (e.g. covering the staff costs of the link workers and/or culture and arts facilitators’ as well as access to facilities, materials and resources for creative activities)
• In-kind  contributions of goods or services (e.g. venues, equipment or donation of material used in the activities).
• Re-allocation of existing staff resources in the planning and implementation of the programme (e.g. steering group and working group members, the project manager/link worker).

Currently, many of the Baltic Sea countries have not yet managed to establish long-term funding for AoP programmes. AoP in the Baltic Sea Region generic programme concept is particularly inspired by England, who have managed to establish long-term funding for social prescribing initiatives. The National Health Service (NHS) 2019 long-term plan for social prescribing allocates financial resources for a network of link workers across England who have a coordinating role in linking citizens to local AoP programmes.

However, the NHS financial model, does not provide financial support to expenses pertaining to the preparation and facilitation of activities. The generic AoP Baltic Sea Region programme concept is facilitated by professional artists and culture facilitators who together with the link worker, are equally important in delivering successful and sustainable AoP programme, and therefore should be renumerated for their services.