Video | 24 October 2021

Why culture is key to good health and well-being – Festival of Politics 2021

Presented in partnership with Scottish Parliament as part of Festival of Politics 2021.

The sustainable provision of health care is a vital concern for all governments. Thanks to a growing body of clinical and neurological research, there is increasing evidence that participation in cultural activity offers revolutionary benefits for a range of medical conditions. From dementia and singing, to Parkinson’s disease and dance, the social and economic benefits of arts in healthcare are still being explored and understood by policy makers, the public and the medical community.

Join the panel to discover the power of arts and culture in addressing society’s health and well-being. Chair: Clare Adamson MSP, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Panellists: David Leventhal (Dance for PD), Sarah Munro (Baltic), Professor Raymond MacDonald (University of Edinburgh)

The fully-captioned recording is available to watch below:

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Joining as a Trustee is Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies and Assistant Principal for Religion and Society at the University of Edinburgh. She is known internationally as a public intellectual and is a regular commentator in the media.

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Dan Mulhall will be joining the board as a Trustee. Dan is a retired Irish diplomat, academic and published author. He is the current Parnell Fellow at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge and is a consultant with the global law firm DLA Piper.

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Also joining as a Trustee is Professor Gayle McPherson, Professor of Events and Cultural Policy and Director of the Centre for Culture, Sport and Events at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). She is also a member of the European Cultural Parliament.

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Joining us as a Trustee is Stephen Gethins, Professor of International Affairs at the University of St Andrews. Prior to that, Stephen was MP for North East Fife, the SNP International affairs spokesperson and was twice selected to sit on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

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Joining in the role of Chair is Shonaig Macpherson CBE, an experienced Chair and non-executive director used to working at the most senior levels of government, private, public and third sectors.

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If you're interested in attending Edinburgh International Culture Summit 2022 as media, interviews with contributors and ministers, or photo opportunities, please contact Susie Gray at susie@thecornershoppr.com or 07834 073795.

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