EU Signs Historic Culture Declaration, Putting Museum Health and Wellbeing Into Policy
On June 18, 2026, a significant joint declaration titled "Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe" was signed in Brussels by the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the EU. This marks their inaugural collective pledge towards culture, outlining twelve principles that emphasize the social and environmental advantages of culture, tackling issues like mental health, climate change, digital transformation, and social inequality. Introduced with the Culture Compass for Europe in November 2025, this declaration is integral to the EU's budget for 2028–2034. Although it lacks legislative authority, it supports cultural health initiatives, backed by a WHO review led by Daisy Fancourt that associates museum visits with a reduced risk of depression. Global efforts include the Jameel Arts & Health Lab and various collaborations with museums.
Key facts
- The European Parliament, European Commission and Council of the EU signed the joint declaration "Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe" in Brussels on 18 June 2026
- It is the first joint commitment by the three EU institutions to protect, promote and support culture
- One of twelve overarching principles commits to promoting culture's positive effects on health and wellbeing
- The declaration is a political commitment, not legislation, and creates no ring-fenced museum health funding
- The Commission presented a draft in November 2025 alongside its Culture Compass for Europe, of which the declaration is the first deliverable
- The WHO's 2019 scoping review gathered evidence from over 3,000 studies on the arts and health
- Museums on Prescription (2014–2017) was led by UCL and Canterbury Christ Church University in London and Kent
- The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts began a doctor-prescribed museum visit partnership in 2018
- Shanghai launched a Museum Healing Alliance in July 2026
- National Gallery Singapore was named Asia's first Healing Arts Centre of Excellence
- The eighth Scientific Conference of Museum Therapy takes place at the National Museum in Kielce on 3–4 November 2026
- Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 has offered a university diploma in cultural prescriptions since 2024
Entities
Artists
- Daisy Fancourt
- Nathalie Bondil
Institutions
- European Parliament
- European Commission
- Council of the EU
- NEMO (Network of European Museum Organisations)
- World Health Organization
- WHO Regional Office for Europe
- UCL
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
- Jameel Arts & Health Lab
- Queens Museum
- Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
- Shanghai Mental Health Center
- Museum Healing Alliance
- National Gallery Singapore
- Carnegie Hall
- Scottish Ballet
- Vancouver Art Gallery
- Whitney Museum
- Inserm
- Claude Bernard University Lyon 1
- British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)
- American Art Therapy Association (AATA)
- Horniman Museum
- National Museum in Kielce
- NHS
- National Academy for Social Prescribing
- MuseumNext
- Culture Compass for Europe
Locations
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Europe
- New York
- United States
- Shanghai
- China
- Singapore
- Montreal
- Canada
- Vancouver
- London
- United Kingdom
- Kent
- England
- Caen
- France
- Charlotte
- North Carolina
- Kielce
- Poland
- Geneva
- Switzerland