Arts on Prescription (AoP) is a model of social prescribing (similar to e. g. Books, Education, Exercise on Prescription) that enables health professionals or other referral channels to refer people to a range of weekly creative and participatory activities to promote their mental health and social inclusion.
Arts on Prescription (AoP) is for persons with mild to moderate mental health issues or those at risk of developing them.
AoP programmes offer a community-based programme, where individuals participate in group-based culture and arts activities such as painting, playing music, dancing, making pottery and visiting museums. Participating in such activities promotes mental health and wellbeing and fosters a sense of community and social belonging.
AoP is also a non-therapy programme and can serve as an alternative for individuals who may seek an alternative approach to promote their mental health, or as a more comprehensive approach for example as a supplement to conventional mental health treatment i.e. medicine and/or therapy.
Arts on Prescription programmes can also reduce the burden on healthcare services, as AoP are inclusive programmes, that promote community mental wellbeing and social inclusion. Please view the video that gives a brief introduction to AoP.