Creativity, culture and mental wellbeing

Hampshire Perspectives is the County Council's residents' forum

This survey was run alongside qualitative focus groups with people working in creative or cultural roles in Hampshire. These stakeholders came from varied organisations across the creative and cultural landscape - some more involved in hands on delivery and therefore closer to the mental wellbeing benefits (e.g. Arts organisations and charities), others in more enabling or administrative roles (e.g. Arts Officers from local councils). Findings from the survey and the focus groups were analysed together. The Hampshire Perspectives survey was open between 19 September and 3 October 2025, and was completed by 666 Hampshire Perspectives members, while 12 stakeholders took part in the focus groups between 1 and 4 September.

Key findings were as follows:

Participation in cultural or creative activities:

• Around 85% of Hampshire Perspectives respondents take part in some form of creative and cultural activities – and even amongst those not currently doing so there is some appetite to.
• Most popular creative activities are attending performances (e.g. theatre, concerts), followed by crafts such as cookery for enjoyment and textiles (e.g. sewing, knitting) and visual arts (e.g. painting, photography). Around a third take part or were interested in performing arts (e.g. singing in choirs, music groups, drama).
• The most popular cultural activities are visiting and exploring places (e.g. stately homes, gardens, historic buildings), followed by other cultural or community heritage activities (e.g. local heritage trails, traditional festivals or fairs).
• Stakeholders felt that men (especially older men), younger adults, those with certain needs (e.g. health or mobility challenges), or those from more deprived backgrounds were less likely to take part in creative or cultural activity.

Benefits of taking part:

• Respondents recognise many benefits to taking part in such activities – enjoyment being key, alongside some aspects of mental wellbeing (learning something new, keeping your brain active, social connection) and appreciation of history and place.
• Other benefits relating to why activities benefit mental wellbeing (e.g. self-esteem, stress relief, sense of purpose, sense of identity, confidence) tend to be less widely noted by respondents
• However, these aspects of mental wellbeing are seen as absolutely critical benefits by the stakeholders, who often work with particular groups of Hampshire residents (e.g. wheelchair dance groups, dementia groups, people living in areas of deprivation), often on activities that involved very active participation (e.g. drama performances).
• Findings suggest that the greatest mental wellbeing benefits come from this more ‘active’ participation, where people may have to push themselves to achieve something new.
• "People don't necessarily know what opportunities there are to do that with other people - and to perhaps push themselves on a bit further. So not just dance in your bedroom, but dance on a stage. So it's maybe that kind of “You already do this, come and do it with other people and push yourself, do something new”."

Barriers to taking part:

• For most respondents (especially those aged under 65), barriers to taking part are mainly functional or rational: convenience, timing, lack of awareness or information about what’s available, transport challenges, cost, poor health or mobility.
• However, for some of the more stretching, participatory activities, barriers are also emotional – fear of being outside your comfort zone, a sense that creative or cultural activities are elitist or simply not ‘for people like me’, and fear of not having the right ability / not being good enough.
• Men in particular are more likely to feel uncomfortable taking part in creative activities, potentially seeing creative pursuits as more feminine, or more female-dominated.

Encouraging more people to take part:

• Hampshire Perspectives respondents are keen to have more information about what might be available locally.
• Stakeholders also voice a strong belief that participation needs to be built and encouraged ‘on the ground’ via establishing relationships, trust and presence in a local community.