The national festival of Creative Health: Creativity and Wellbeing Week takes place from the 18th - 24th May 2026 and is an amazing platform to champion and celebrate creative health across the country. The festival is a partnership between the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance and London Arts and Health and this year our festival theme is “Critical Hope” (for acute times).
“Critical hope” reflects the ability to realistically assess the environment through a lens of equity and justice while also envisioning the possibility of a better future. Championed as an idea by Paulo Freire, "critical hope" is an active, necessary, and realistic, rather than passive or naive, stance against oppression and despair, deeply rooted in his work Pedagogy of Hope.
This year, we're excited to showcase a range of opportunities to take part in Creativity and Wellbeing Week. The Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance, London Arts and Health, and Arts & Homelessness International are curating an edition of The Big Issue for Creativity & Wellbeing Week (18-22 May 2026) with an editorial theme acknowledging the increasing precarity in the health and care sectors. We're seeking applications from anyone working across the intersections of climate change, mental health, creativity, culture, health and wellbeing that explores the provocation, 'how can we hold onto critical hope in our creative health work, whilst also acknowledging the difficult times we all face?'
For more information and how to apply visit the Creativity and Wellbeing Week website here.
We are also looking to fund six (6) events put on by anyone across the field of creative health looking to elevate their work during Creativity and Wellbeing Week, through the lens of “Critical Hope”.
Commissions are worth £750 and we are seeking to commission six (6):
Four (4) within London and -
Two (2) nationally within England.
Access further information on the commissions here.
In the run up to the week and throughout, we want to hear your stories, tell us what you're planning for Creativity and Wellbeing Week 2026, how you're going to explore this year's theme or spotlight another organisation/practitioner who’s been doing some great work this year. You can submit stories via the website, or email us on [email protected] or [email protected].
Watch the recording from our recent event; Creativity and Wellbeing Week: How to Take Part below.