Establishing Strong Working Relationships and Shared Goals

When communicating with various stakeholders it is important to tailor information regarding the AoP programme to their field of interest, values, and priorities. Communication with stakeholders should be tailored, taking into consideration their knowledge of AoP programmes and/or target audience, and stakeholders’ level of involvement in the AoP programme. For example, when communicating with decision makers it is important to understand their perspectives and not only tailor communication but also to be conscious of and prepare for possible barriers or questions, they may have relating to AoP programmes. 

When communicating with health and social care professionals, it would be appropriate to discuss AoP programmes expected health and social outcomes, and to emphasis the programme is a non-therapy approach to promoting mental health and wellbeing. Communication with culture and arts professionals may involve introducing them to new aspects of integrating culture in health promoting programmes as well as catering for a new target audience. Therefore, it would be appropriate to convey the positive effects cultural and arts activities have on peoples’ health and wellbeing. 

Organisations and referral channels with experience or working with the target audience may require a general introduction to the AoP concept and how the AoP programme can potentially have a positive impact on their client’s wellbeing and sense of social belonging. 

If needed, help stakeholders make the case for how and why improved health and wellbeing is related to their core tasks and objectives. For example, within the employment sector, research indicates a link between elevated levels of wellbeing and better chances of going from being unemployed to being employed. When adapting information to distinct groups of stakeholders, it is important to ensure that the core information regarding the programme is consistent throughout.

Further to tailored communication with each stakeholder, a good additional approach to communicate with stakeholders is to host one or more knowledge transfer workshops or seminars where for example previous participants, link workers, facilitators, and/or experts as well as different stakeholders are invited to a dialogue, knowledge sharing and to try out selected AoP activities themselves. This makes the AoP concept more relatable for local stakeholders and helps to create a greater understanding of the programme’s potential benefits.

Communicate using clear and concise language, provide definitions or explanations of complex terms or terms that are specific to AoP (e.g. “link worker”, “referral channel”), and avoid using unfamiliar terms. Encourage open dialogue and active listening, taking note of the recipients input and feedback to gain a better understanding of their perspectives and commitment and to build on these perspectives to gain a shared understanding of the AoP programme.  

Identify potential collaborators and projects that may improve or benefit your AoP programme. Similar projects and programmes can provide the steering and working group with valuable knowledge regarding similar programmes e.g. how culture and health programmes may increase the participants mental health or their ability to return to the workforce.

Collaboration with stakeholders from similar programmes can also provide insightful information to the risks and challenges others have had in implementing art and health programmes. Collaborating with similar projects and programmes can create opportunities for inviting the collaborators to become associated partners, advisory board members, expert advisor to your AoP programme etc. 

Furthermore, collaborating with similar initiatives and projects can provide access to a broader network working with health and culture initiatives. 

Gaining a shared understanding of the potential of AoP programmes takes time, to gain a shared understanding various meetings, and workshops should be incorporated in the planning phase of your AoP programme. It is also important during these meetings to outline everyone’s roles, responsibilities, and contributions to the programme, as well as to discuss the goals, objectives and expected outcomes of the programme. Encourage stakeholders to ask clarifying questions to ensure everyone has a shared understanding of all aspects of the programme e.g. the programmes organisational framework, objectives, implementation, evaluation processes etc.

Photo: Lelde Goba

A shared understanding of the AoP programme concept in your local context is essential for creating a strong interdisciplinary collaboration among AoP programme stakeholders from your different sectors. When communicating specific benefits and impacts of AoP programmes it is important to target the stakeholders’ field of interest e.g. the health benefits to health stakeholders, culture benefits to culture stakeholders and social benefits to stakeholders from social and welfare sectors. For inspiration on arts impact across different sectors, see more here.

To promote a shared understanding of AoP programmes in your local region or municipality you need to provide your primary stakeholders with prior knowledge, data and experiences of health and social outcomes from AoP programmes. An effective way to foster a shared understanding of the AoP concept is to involve stakeholders in cultural activities that are part of the AoP programme. Also convey experts’ opinions and scientific evidence that recognise the positive effects AoP programmes have in improving mental health and wellbeing. 

It is highly recommended to involve key persons from the very beginning or as soon as possible in the planning and in gaining a shared understanding of the AoP programme. It is especially important to create a shared understanding of the value and goals of the AoP programme among different stakeholders such as the steering group, the working group and others involved in the AoP programme. Clarify how the AoP programme objectives align with the general direction, polices and strategies in your municipality or region. Collaborate with departments and/or organisations in which the AoP programmes objectives and deliverables corresponds within their field of interest. Clearly define the AoP programmes scope, target audiences, objectives, and deliverables. If possible, objectives and deliverables should be measurable.