Current research is telling us art and creativity can heal people’s minds and bodies, but I believe the Bible has been showing us this since the beginning…’

A new book, Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt, explains why engagement in the arts can actually improve health outcomes as well as contribute to our overall wellbeing. Dr Fancourt is Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London, and has built up a body of evidence from scientific studies over several decades to show that creativity and the arts do our bodies and minds serious good. Whether we’re practising the arts ourselves - singing, dancing or drawing for example; or engaging with them through cultural activities; they have the power to measurably improve our health. One study from 2019 found that those who went to the theatre, cinema or a museum once a month nearly halved their chances of getting depression, independent of social or demographic factors, lifestyle or genetics. With this mind, Art Cure also makes a fresh case for how essential the arts are for all society.

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Long before this scientific evidence was gathered, the Bible was already documenting the healing power of the arts.

Long before this scientific evidence was gathered, the Bible was already documenting the healing power of the arts. Take King Saul for example. In 1 Samuel 16 we find him tormented by an evil spirit, which was causing depression, paranoia, violent outbursts and rage. While it had spiritual origins, what Saul suffered from aligns with a diagnosis of severe mental illness and trauma. It’s likely he developed this after fighting in his numerous battles and experiencing intense combat. Seeking a cure, his servants knew the arts could heal, and suggested they “search for someone who can play the lyre…and you will feel better”. They soon found David; and whenever Saul experienced mental distress, David would “take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul, he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”

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David himself was a songwriter and poet, as well as a musician. Pouring out his thoughts, they became the poetry and songs of the Psalms. These give us an amazing template for doing the same ourselves. I’ve often turned to journalling as a form of catharsis. It has helped me turn jumbled, disparate ideas, or intense experiences into ordered trains of thought and identifiable feelings. When I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety after a particularly tough set of experiences, journalling became a bit of a lifeline. As I poured my own unfiltered thoughts onto the page - anger, sadness and everything in between, it helped me to process things and before long I arrived at a much calmer, clearer and more joyful outlook. The Psalms record a similar journey - from distress and confusion, to peace, joy, and purpose. And as I’ve continued to pursue creative practices and embed them into my life, they’ve helped me to become more resilient too. I’ve experienced God rewiring me, healing me and realigning me with his purposes.

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Regular engagement in the arts might seem like an unorthodox cure, especially if we’re already feeling humbled by a medical diagnosis. But it’s worth a try. Take Naaman, a commander in the Syrian army who suffered from leprosy. When he sought healing from the great prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 5, Elisha told him to wash himself seven times in the river Jordan. Naaman was so angry at this unimpressive prescription that he nearly rejected it outright. But his servant persuaded him and after his seventh dip in the river, he was completely healed from his leprosy and praising God.

In a similar vein, Art Cure opens with a story of a man who had suffered a stroke. Though he had learned to walk and talk again, he was steadily deteriorating in other ways, and becoming more depressed. When his doctor prescribed him eight weeks of painting classes, he was sceptical. But as he started the classes and took up his paint brush, he saw significant improvements in his health. Before long his pain levels lowered and he came off his pills. He soon regained a sense of purpose and fully recovered to work as a professional artist; exhibiting and selling his paintings.

What could be a more human prescription for health and wellbeing than engaging in the arts? An ancient remedy from our Creator God, backed by scientific evidence - a genuine cure for our ills.