Between 2019 and 2023, the Creativity and Wellbeing Hallmark Research Initiative (CAWRI) funded and supported twenty interdisciplinary research projects. Many of these had to adapt their methods during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to innovative approaches and unexpected research directions. The projects engaged researchers across all career stages, and CAWRI also provided funding to fourteen graduate researchers to help expand their thesis work into new areas, contributing to a stronger evidence base.

The research findings were shared through various platforms, including academic journals, conferences, public websites, blogs, webinars, podcasts, and media appearances. Notably, following seed funding from CAWRI to explore the efficacy of an eight-week writing and boxing workshop on the mental health, wellbeing and personal agency of participants, Left Write Hook has gone from strength to strength. An award winning documentary co-produced by Dr Shannon Owen and Dr Donna Lyon, that follows participants of the program is now streaming on Netflix.

The Performing Creativity, Culture and Wellbeing conference was held in February 2023. The event featured both national and international speakers, including Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead at the World Health Organization. During the conference, Creative Australia (formerly the Australia Council for the Arts) launched its report Connected Lives: Creative solutions to the mental health crisis, which aligns with the Australian Government’s National Culture Policy.

Through these efforts, CAWRI has established itself as a leading force in the growing field of creativity and wellbeing, promoting evidence-based strategies for leveraging creativity to enhance the wellbeing of diverse communities worldwide.

2024 and beyond

Following the success of the 2023 conference, in 2024 the Fostering Creative Health conference explored cost-effective ways for the arts, health, social care, and education sectors to collaborate and achieve positive outcomes. The key note from Professor André de Quadros explored the convergence of ideas in the arts and health disciplines and the contribution of community arts to primary care and preventive care.

Other presenters included leading researchers in arts, health, and therapy from a wide range of institutions, including universities, NGOs, Creative Australia, the Australian Music Therapy Association, and the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association. Topics covered areas such as creative ageing, dementia care, Indigenous arts and health, trauma and the arts, dance, music, visual arts, social prescribing, as well as policy and leadership.

CAWRI continues to foster links to a broader community of practice through the Victorian Network for Creativity and Wellbeing, hosting lunchtime webinars, and providing platforms throughout the blog and podcast for researchers in our network as well as others working in our theme area to connect with and communicate their research to a wider audience.

CAWRI has two priority research areas - arts for social action and wellbeing for performing artists. Steered by a committee with extensive applied research experience in creative wellbeing, CAWRI facilitates a broad program of research investigating First Nations cultural determinants of health, diversity and access to arts participation, participatory arts for peace building and climate emergency, physical musicality among older adults, and intercultural music and dance engagement for social connection and community resilience.

Situated within the Southbank cultural precinct, with applied researchers who have in depth understanding of the institutions and professional organisations housed therein, CAWRI fosters strong relationships with precinct partners, investigating projects that expand access for arts participation, such as Choir 3006 at the Melbourne Recital Centre.