About Us

London Arts in Health Forum (LAHF) is a London-based networking organisation for health and arts professionals and health-related organisations.

LAHF promotes understanding of the role that the arts and creativity can play in health care and encourages healthcare services to explore the value of culture in wellbeing. It does this through meetings, a regular newsletter, discussions and research. LAHF's work encompasses hospitals, care facilities, GP surgeries and community settings.

There is a growing appreciation of the impact that the arts can have on wellbeing. Twenty years ago, the role of the arts in health and care was largely decorative, increasingly, there is an understanding that participation in the arts and access to a range of arts opportunities can dramatically improve health outcomes and increase wellbeing. Now the field of arts in health takes in all aspects of health, social care, community activities and public health along side the role the arts can play in developing a healing environment. At the same time, the full breadth of the arts is being used in health and care including visual arts, dance, theatre, music and film and the moving image.

LAHF is a membership organisation. Its members include NHS Trusts, Primary Care Trusts and General Practices, their professional and managerial staff, arts organisations, funding bodies, educational institutions, artists, architects, designers, art therapists and other practitioners in the arts and health. LAHF’s remit includes all aspects of physical and mental health, primary and secondary health care and providers in both the public and private sectors.

It is FREE to subscribe to the LAHF newsletter! To sign up click here

LAHF can also be contacted by phone or by post – details on our Contact page