Taikusydän is a multisectoral coordination centre and national network for arts and health in Finland. Since 2015, Taikusydän has been developing an interdisciplinary arts & health field and advancing the mainstreaming of arts, creativity and culture as part of promoting wellbeing, health, and a good life.

What do we do?

• We gather and disseminate information on current news, publications, research, practices, and projects in the field of arts & health.
• We bring together actors in the field and build cooperation to disseminate good practices and develop new approaches.
• We act as development partners and experts in projects and working groups and organise events.
• We promote Nordic and international cooperation in the field of arts & health.
• We influence policymaking and attitudes in cooperation with the Culture & Wellbeing Pool.

Our main activities include:

• Compiling and maintaining a comprehensive databank of information, publications, practices, projects, concepts, educational resources, and proven models related to the impact of arts and culture on wellbeing.
• Sharing up-to-date information on news, research, projects, and key actors—through channels such as a monthly newsletter and active social media presence.
• Coordinating a national network of researchers, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, and disseminating knowledge in the field of arts and health.
• Promoting collaboration at regional, national, and Nordic levels. We operate nationally through 14 regional networks covering the areas of 16 counties, reaching nearly the entire country.
• Bridging the arts, health, and social care sectors to share effective practices and co-develop new operational and funding models.

Taikusydän aims to integrate arts and culture into mainstream health and well-being strategies and policymaking. In collaboration with its network, it develops and promotes solutions to ensure that cooperation between professionals in the arts and culture sector and those in social, health, and education services becomes a permanent part of promoting health and well-being in Finland.

Taikusydän is also one of the founding members of Culture and Well-being Pool. Taikusydän promotes proposals for actions suggested in the closing report of the national Art and Culture for Well-being programme 2010–2014.

Our values are:

• Everyone has the right to art and culture as part of a good life.
• Let’s create together—by sharing and experiencing.
• Art enables genuine human connection.
• Art is part of humanity, everyday life, and celebration.
• Art belongs to everyone.

Partners

Taikusydän is administrated by Turku University of Applied Sciences. During the years, it has been funded by the City of Turku, Arts Promotion Centre Finland, the University of Turku, City of Tampere and University of Tampere. Taikusydän works with many different actors in regional, national and international levels.

 

Arts & Health Research Network

The Finnish Arts & Health Research Network has been founded as part of the Taikusydän initiative. The research network regularly arranges research meetings, workshops and seminars as well as maintains an expert database. Taikusydän is an active member in the Nordic Arts and Health Research Network .

 

Picture: Pisamaart / Mari Villanen.
Last update 19.5.2025.