A constructive-critical response to Creative Health: The Arts for Health and Wellbeing (July 2017) by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing

The recent report from the United Kingdom (UK) All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing is receiving widespread publicity across the media. Newspaper articles and social media posts espouse the benefits and importance of employing creative arts within the health domain, citing the report as proof of this. The report is inclusive of the entire range of arts practices, while its recommendations relate in the most part to UK policy and systems. The focus of this article is specific to visual arts practices and art therapy (art-for-health), but may have relevance across arts modalities and approaches (arts and health). This article questions the approach to the evidence taken in the report, and highlights the need for rigour, balance and impartiality in conducting research and presenting evidence. A case is made for the use of formal systematic reviews as appropriate ways to develop the evidence base. Another suggestion is a request for more explicit consideration of the ideological commitments underpinning beliefs about purpose and value within art therapy and the wider arts and health arena.