Creative Experiences Boost Children’s Wellbeing: Call for Equal Arts Access and Policy Integration

Advocates for children’s health and education are calling for a more integrated government approach that links health, culture, and education policies to improve youth wellbeing. This push for systemic change emphasizes the role of creative engagement in helping children feel more connected and empowered.

The discussion follows an analysis of the relationship between public health and the arts, specifically regarding the science of ageing, published on May 12, 2026. Experts in child development argue that the health benefits of artistic engagement are well-known to those working directly with young people and should be formally integrated into public health strategies.

Paula Briggs, the founder of the UK charity AccessArt, which has supported visual arts teaching and learning for nearly 30 years, reports that teachers frequently observe the positive impact of creative experiences on students. According to Briggs, these activities help children feel connected, empowered and engaged.

Despite these reported benefits, Briggs suggests that the arts have been undervalued within many school systems for several years. She attributes this decline to institutional pressure to narrow the curriculum, which often prioritizes measurable outcomes over meaningful engagement.

This tension between quantifiable data and holistic wellbeing is a central point of concern for those advocating for a broader definition of children’s health. The argument is that by focusing strictly on measurable metrics, schools may be overlooking critical drivers of mental and emotional health.

the ability to access these health-promoting creative activities is not distributed evenly across the population. Nicky Goulder has called for the establishment of more equal access to creative opportunities across society to ensure that the wellbeing benefits of the arts are available to all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

The call for reform suggests that the government must take a more serious approach to school attendance, general health, and overall wellbeing. Briggs argues that achieving these goals requires a more courageous approach to policy-making.

The government needs to get serious about wellbeing, school attendance and children’s health, and be much braver in joining up policy across education, culture and health.

Paula Briggs

The integration of arts into public health frameworks is viewed as a necessary step to address the complex needs of children and young people. By treating culture and creativity as components of health rather than optional extras, advocates believe the state can better support the developmental and emotional needs of the youth population.