Welcome to the Centre for Arts and Wellbeing

The Centre for Arts and Wellbeing develops research and enterprise initiatives that directly benefit the wellbeing of individuals, communities, society, the economy and the environment.

We collaborate and innovate in a wide range of sectors where creative and practice based methodologies can support healthy people and places.

Our research makes an important contribution to a wide range of areas including creative health and social prescription, sustainable design and architecture, place-making and ecology.

We work in partnership with NGO’s, charities and governing bodies as well as industry, resulting in the co-creation of diverse, tangible outputs that enact positive change in the world.

PhD study in arts and wellbeing? Find out more.

Contact the centre for information on our events and community activities and how you can join in:

CentreforArtsandWellbeing@brighton.ac.uk

Artist Jane Fox's hands visible in silhouette and shadow through a crinkled white cloth making marks on the wind-blown material

Join us for study, work or visit

Arts practitioner Sarah Gladden holds up a paper for drawing project with elderly, vision-impaired Peter Cutts as part of an inclusive arts project.

Who we are

Discover our latest research activity
Visit our blog site for work-in-progress, events and opportunities

Discover our research in detail
Explore our centre through the university's database of research and knowledge exchange.

Head and shoulders black and white portrait of design researcher Nick Gant

Co-Directors of the Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, Dr Nick Gant and Dr Helen Johnson.

A welcome to the Centre for Arts and Wellbeing from the co-directors, Dr Nick Gant and Dr Helen Johnson

The Centre for Arts and Wellbeing at the University of Brighton proudly supports research and enterprise initiatives that directly benefit the wellbeing of diverse individuals and communities. The university has a long history in innovative art and design practices, medicine and healthcare, and has pioneered community engagement, partnership and co-production practice. The Centre for Arts and Wellbeing brings these strengths together, fostering novel, vital, creative and collaborative modes and methods through which a range of health and wellbeing issues are investigated and brought to public benefit.

Our work extends across the broadest definition of arts and health practice, discovering and developing new strengths through the co-location of creative minds and multidisciplinary interests. In doing so, we make a vital contribution to contemporary cultural life for communities well beyond the university, while developing the knowledge base around how and why the arts, health and wellbeing can and must interweave.

Our membership extends across all schools and all levels in the university, including PhD students and early career researchers. We also work closely with a range of external partners and associate members, including representatives of local government, creative practitioners and community organisations. This network is continuously growing, and we are always keen to hear from potential new partners who connect with our aim of understanding and developing the relationship between the arts and our shared wellbeing.

Dr Nick Gant

Dr Helen Johnson

News features on the Centre for Arts and Wellbeing

The Centre for Arts and Wellbeing on the University of Brighton press news stream

Woodworking opens doors for ex-offenders: Sustainable design meets social impact in Brighton

A pair of tattooed arms hold a chair as it's being built

The University of Brighton and local charity MIO empower ex-prisoners through chair-making - building skills, confidence, creativity, and eco-conscious design.

Pioneering new project explores inclusive open water swimming with visually impaired community

Aerial view of Brighton seafront with Victorian buildings along Marine Drive and Madeira Drive with the Volks Electric Railway in the foreground

A groundbreaking project is supporting visually impaired people across Sussex to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of open water swimming.

Brighton’s Wild House offers radical blueprint for sustainable social housing and policy reform

A new sustainable social housing showcase designed to inspire policy makers to rethink how homes can better connect people with nature is now open at Brighton.

University of Brighton students launch creative project to support people affected by cancer

Shallow focus of a typical NHS hospital waiting room sign seen in a British hospital. - stock photo (Nickbeer)

University of Brighton students are leading community workshops across Sussex offering people affected by cancer a meaningful way to share their experiences.

University secures major postgraduate research studentship funding

University of Brighton design archives studio

The University of Brighton, as part of a consortium, has secured funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for postgraduate research studentships.

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Our researchers write for

Superman’s not the first hero to be portrayed as bisexual, but he’ll bring hope to LGBTQ+ fans Alex Fitch
Are travel philanthropists doing more harm than good? Marina Novelli

News and events from our blog site

Creative Research Methods Symposium with Emma C, Gail Butler, Elle Whitcroft, Emma Anderson and Martina B. Diehl

This session features: Emma C (community researcher), Gail Butler (Justlife), Elle Whitcroft (Brighton and Sussex Medical School) & Emma Anderson (University of Brighton) – ‘Using Rivers of Life to Explore Barriers and Sources of Support for Women’s Mental Health Through Homelessness.

Researching Domestic and Family Abuse

Presentation One Title: Large-Scale Primary Care Health Precincts Barriers and Enablers of Integrated Care for Health Consumers Living with Chronic Conditions: A Study of Workforce Capabilities for Managing Domestic and Family Violence Cases Presenter: Shauna Fjaagesund, PhD Candidate, Health Hub Morayfield,.

Embodying our Coproduction: Presenting at the ‘Refocus on Recovery 2025 International Conference’ in Nottingham

Toni King | School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences | Supervisors: David Haines, Chris Cocking, & Sandy Walker My Doctoral research explores participant-developed images of experiences of power during conversations in a mental health context, alongside multimodal analysis of.

Poetry, Platelets, and Phenotypes: Exploring the Potential of Art in Making Space for New Social Representations of Bleeding Disorders

Dr Richard Gorman, Assistant Professor in Ethics and Social Science at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, received funding from the Centre for Arts and Wellbeing at the University of Brighton to work with people affected by bleeding disorders.