Healing Arts is a global campaign by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab in collaboration with the World Health Organization
Healing Arts is a global campaign by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab in collaboration with the World Health Organization
Healing Arts Birmingham (HABrum) is a collaboration between Birmingham City Council and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, as part of the Lab's global Healing Arts campaign with the World Health Organization.
In June 2026, this city-wide activation will explore how arts, culture, and heritage can improve health, wellbeing, and social equity across Birmingham and the wider Midlands. Through a focused week of activity, Healing Arts Birmingham will bring together communities, public health systems, cultural organisations, and decision-makers to share practice, test ideas, and build momentum for long-term change.
“Healing Arts Birmingham showcases how a city can build a social-justice movement rooted in creativity, demonstrating how arts, culture, and heritage can contribute to a healthier, fairer and more resilient future for all citizens.
By deepening city-wide understanding of the evidence, value and impact of the arts on health, we aim to inspire long-term systems change across Birmingham, the Midlands and across England. Over five days, we will highlight the healing power of the arts in improving health and wellbeing across communities, clinical settings and social care.
Through lived-experience-led evidence gathering, meaningful collaboration and practical demonstrations, we will show how creative approaches can reduce inequalities and strengthen the conditions that empower cities to enable their citizens and places to thrive.”
The Jameel Arts & Health Lab is a global initiative working to improve health and wellbeing through the arts, with a focus on overlooked and underserved communities. The Lab combines scientific evidence, artist-led advocacy, and capacity building to advance the integration of arts into mainstream healthcare. Launched in January 2023, the Lab is a partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, New York University's Steinhardt School, Community Jameel, and Culturunners. It is the first major initiative of its kind to be supported by WHO.
