Art Cure: The science of how the arts transform our health

In September 2026, MAS welcomed Members and guests from across Aotearoa and beyond to Art Cure: The science of how the arts transform our health, a special webinar featuring world-renowned arts and health researcher Professor Daisy Fancourt.

Drawing on decades of research and the ideas explored in her bestselling book Art Cure, Daisy shared compelling evidence on the relationship between creativity and wellbeing, highlighting how engaging with the arts can support our mental and physical health, strengthen social connection, and contribute to healthier lives.

A central theme of the webinar was the idea that engaging with the arts should be viewed much like any other habit that supports our wellbeing. Rather than treating creative activities as an occasional luxury, Daisy encouraged attendees to make them a regular part of daily life, describing the arts as something we should plan for in the same way we plan our meals, exercise or sleep.

The discussion also challenged common assumptions about what it means to engage with the arts. Whether we're actively creating through activities such as painting, singing or writing, or simply enjoying a concert, book, film or gallery visit, Daisy explained that both active and receptive engagement can be transformative. The key is regular participation and finding creative experiences that are meaningful and enjoyable.

Looking at history, Daisy noted that art and health have not always been viewed as separate disciplines. Across many cultures and periods of time, creativity, storytelling, music and artistic expression were deeply connected to healing and community wellbeing. It is only relatively recently, through the development of modern healthcare systems and modern lifestyles, that this connection has become less visible.

The webinar also highlighted the importance of ensuring people have opportunities to access and participate in arts and culture. Daisy spoke about the role arts engagement plays in healthy societies and shared the concerning reality that, despite being recognised as a human right, access to arts and culture remains one of the least actively measured or monitored areas globally.

Thank you for joining us

At MAS, supporting wellbeing is at the heart of what we do. Through conversations like this, we aim to bring fresh perspectives, expert insights and evidence-based thinking to our Members and wider community.

If you'd like to continue exploring the themes discussed during the webinar, you can learn more through Professor Daisy Fancourt's bestselling book, Art Cure.

A sincere thank you to Professor Daisy Fancourt for sharing her expertise, Dr Lucy O'Hagan, author of Everything But the Medicine, for sharing her insights and to everyone who joined us for this fascinating discussion on the connection between creativity, health and wellbeing.

If you would like a copy of the webinar recording, please email info@mas.co.nz.