ABSTRACT
The field of arts, health and well-being exhibits many characteristics of a social movement. Health social movements are part of a long tradition that began with attempts to improve living and working conditions following the industrial revolution. Social movement thinking has influenced the development of the arts and health field. The field of arts, health and well-being is diverse, drawing together artists, participants, grass-roots activists, professionals, managers, researchers, entrepreneurs and policy makers. The field of arts, health and well-being is relatively fragmented, with not only pockets of excellent practice but also gaps and barriers to developing sustainable projects that can tackle health and well-being inequalities. The diverse field of arts, health and well-being draws its energy from the work of a wide range of stakeholders including individual artists, project participants and researchers as well as small and large arts and cultural organisations.
