About the project
How ARTHERAPY approaches mental health and wellbeing
ARTHERAPY is a European cooperation project exploring the role of arts-based practices in supporting youth mental health, emotional wellbeing, and social inclusion.
The project brings together cultural organisations, social actors, and practitioners to investigate how artistic processes can offer accessible, participatory, and inclusive forms of support, particularly for young people who are less likely to engage with traditional systems.
Rather than treating art as a complementary activity, ARTHERAPY positions it as a structured and intentional approach. Through creative expression, participants can build connections, strengthen self-awareness, and foster both individual and collective wellbeing.
Through research, experimentation, and collaboration, the project develops methods and tools that can be applied across diverse contexts and communities.
Project context
Why this project is needed
Across Europe, youth mental health and wellbeing have become increasingly urgent priorities, closely linked to social inclusion and equitable access to support.
Organisations working in cultural, educational, and community settings are often at the forefront of these challenges, yet they frequently lack structured methodologies and practical tools to address them effectively.
At the same time, arts-based practices are gaining recognition for their capacity to foster expression, participation, and care. However, these approaches remain fragmented and are not yet systematically integrated into youth work and community-based interventions.
ARTHERAPY responds to this gap by creating a structured, shared, and transferable approach to arts-based wellbeing practices.
Objectives
What ARTHERAPY aims to achieve
ARTHERAPY pursues a set of interconnected objectives aimed at strengthening the role of arts-based approaches in youth mental health and social inclusion
• Strengthen the role of arts-based practices
as effective tools for emotional wellbeing, empowerment, and inclusion
• Develop a shared competence framework
for professionals operating across cultural, social, and educational contexts
• Build the capacity of organisations and practitioners
to apply arts-based approaches in everyday work
• Test and refine methods in real-life contexts
through participatory and collaborative activities
• Produce and share transferable tools and knowledge
to support wider uptake across Europe
Methodology
How ARTHERAPY works in practice
The project combines research, collaboration, and practical experimentation to develop adaptable and context-sensitive approaches.
Co-creation
Working with participants, not for them
ARTHERAPY is grounded in participatory processes where young people, artists, and practitioners actively contribute to shaping both activities and outcomes.
Cross-sector collaboration
Connecting culture, social, and educational fields
The project brings together diverse actors to develop integrated approaches that respond to complex social challenges.
Practice-based experimentation
Testing methods in real contexts
Approaches are developed and validated through workshops, residencies, and pilot actions, ensuring strong grounding in real-life experience.
Iterative learning and knowledge sharing
Learning, refining, and sharing results
Activities are continuously documented, evaluated, and transformed into practical resources that can be reused and adapted
Project activities
What the project puts into action
ARTHERAPY integrates research, training, experimentation, and dissemination through coordinated activities across partner countries
Research and mapping
Identification of existing practices, needs, and gaps related to arts-based approaches in youth mental health and inclusion
Method development
Co-creation of shared approaches, frameworks, and practical methodologies
Capacity-building activities
Training initiatives for artists, organisations, and practitioners
Residencies and pilot actions
Testing approaches in real settings through collaborative work with young people and communities
Dissemination and knowledge transfer
Sharing results, tools, and experiences to support uptake beyond the partnership
Project outputs
What the project is designed to produce
ARTHERAPY delivers a set of practical and transferable outputs aimed at supporting stakeholders across youth, cultural, and community sectors
Competence Framework
A reference framework defining the skills, knowledge, and principles required to apply arts-based approaches to mental health and wellbeing.
Implementation Toolkit
A practical resource offering methods, exercises, and guidance for applying arts-based approaches in real contexts.
Practices Compendium
A curated collection of tested practices, case studies, and experiential insights.
Policy Brief
A concise document translating project outcomes into recommendations for institutions and decision-makers.
Target groups
Who the project engages and supports
ARTHERAPY engages a diverse ecosystem of actors, addressing both direct participants and users of the project’s results.
Artists and cultural professionals
Interested in applying arts-based approaches in youth and community contexts
Youth organisations and practitioners
Seeking structured tools and methodologies to support inclusion and wellbeing
Young people and communities
Benefiting from participatory and creative approaches to expression, connection, and mental health
Explore the project in pratice
Discover the tools, resources, and opportunities developed through ARTHERAPY