WAHWN NEWS
State of the Sector Survey for Creative Health
Things are moving fast in creative health – and all around it. We would be very grateful if you could share this survey with your networks, and share information about your work so that we can better advocate for your priorities. Complete the survey.
Date: 23/09/2025
Care homes across the UK encouraged to 'go green' for National Day of Arts in Care Homes 2025
The National Activity Providers Association - the professional association for activity providers and activity provision – is encouraging Welsh care homes to join in its plans to connect care home residents with nature through the arts this National Day of Arts in Care Homes.
Date: 19/08/2025
Welcome to WAHWN: The Wales Arts Health & Well-being Network
Established in 2013, WAHWN (Wales Arts Health & Wellbeing Network) is the national sector support body for arts, health and wellbeing in Wales. Our work is underpinned by key legislation and drivers, including the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act 2015, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Welsh NHS Confederation and Arts Council Wales. Our rapidly expanding membership of 1,000 arts and health professionals, represents the arts, health and HE sectors working across the full range of art form practice in health, arts and other community settings. WAHWN is proud of its central role within a growing number of key partnership initiatives and our position to provide a national voice for the sector at a strategic level, demonstrating best practice of existing policy implementation and influencing new policies.
Looking to get started?
We’ve put together some particular resources for each of our types of user. Click here to see the resources that will help you get prepared for working, commissioning, or supporting arts in health.
Become a Member of WAHWN
Are you committed to working together to strengthen and advocate for arts as part of well-being and health? Then WAHWN is for you.
WAHWN is a strategic network for arts, health and well-being in Wales – a common meeting ground for knowledge exchange and the joint promotion of activities. Our work currently includes the development of training and development provision, resource development, research, events and advocacy.
WAHWN members will be able to:-
- Share their knowledge with others in the Network
- Post opportunities, events, news and blogs
- Connect with each other to share knowledge and develop collaborative work
- Submit case studies, research, papers, evaluation and project reports
“As soon as I joined, the Network gave me a point of connection with other people like me, I can’t tell you how valuable that is. It’s common to be the only one of your kind in a healthcare institution, it can be very isolating. In WAHWN, not only do I have a solid group of colleagues that I can share ideas with and ask advice from, I also find myself doing exciting new work with other members as we discover shared needs and interests within the field of Arts And Health.”
Heather Parnell, Cwm Taf Health Board
“The network has been excellent for meeting others working in arts and health. As a result of the network I have made new collaborations for sharing research informed training. I envisage further collaborations around research development and evaluation”
Dr Gill Windle, Senior Researcher, Bangor University Dementia Services Research Department
"Huge congratulations for pulling off such an invigorating and well-organised day (The WAHWN Art of Health in Wales Symposium and Showcase). A great turn out and a great sense of solidarity and cohesion in the room. Well done!"
Sally Lewis, Arts Council of Wales
“Network meetings are an invaluable way for practitioners like me to keep up to date on CPD in arts and health and to stay in touch with members and their work especially as we live in a relatively remote area. It allows us to promote the arts in health in these areas which need support.”
Tanya Dower, Live Music Now Wales
"The Network helps us keep up to date with activity pan Wales, share with colleagues and develop new partnerships essential in this day and age. There is an exciting growing moment in arts and health in the UK and especially in Wales, and I believe this network is essential to keep that going and continue to enhance our reach and provision to benefit so many communities across our country"
Claire Cressey, Director, Live Music Now Wales