About us
Why Creative Health?
There is a growing movement across the UK and internationally to recognise the role of creativity in improving health and wellbeing, reducing inequalities, and shaping healthier communities.
At the University of Leeds, our ambition is to build an interdisciplinary network that connects researchers from different methodologies across medical and social sciences and arts and humanities with those working in health and the arts sector.
By doing so, we aim to open up new opportunities to understand health and human behaviour, and to highlight the action required to address complex social and regional challenges.
Our Aims (2025–26)
- Grow an interdisciplinary creative health community; We are strengthening cross-faculty connections and supporting a vibrant network of researchers across the University.
- Support collaborative research with real-world impact; We convene partners across health, culture, civic organisations, community groups, and academia to explore and apply Creative Health approaches locally, regionally, and globally.
- Advance visibility and a shared identity for creative health at Leeds; We champion the work already underway across the University and provide a central hub for communication, collaboration, and celebration.
- Develop future-facing teaching and training; Working with the Leeds Institute for Societal Futures, we are shaping curriculum that supports long-term growth, skills development, and sustainability in this emerging field.
- Align research with regional policy priorities ;We work closely with LAWHN, WYCA, the NHS, and WYHCP to ensure Creative Health research informs and contributes to policy, practice, and place-based change across West Yorkshire.