Towards a caring practice: reflections on the processes and components of arts-health practice

Background: Many arts and health studies have focused on evaluating the impact of participatory arts activities, but few have considered the processes and components shaping the wellbeing outcomes of the participants. This paper uses a relational approach to health to explore the elements at play in participatory arts.Methods: The study uses an action-research case study of a 12-week visual art programme in a nursing home with 10 participants. Data collected were analysed and interpreted using grounded theory to obtain general themes and to facilitate focused analysis.Results: The study identifies the participants, wellbeing outcomes, the environment and the quality of activities as key concerns of arts-health practice. It also reflects on the link between caring and arts-health practice to highlight several caring attributes that promote a caring arts-health practice.Conclusions: The study findings provide a practice framework that can guide decision making and action to foster a caring arts-health practice.