What we do
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Enhancing the role of arts and culture for health: We promote the use of arts and culture as concrete tools for well-being, health promotion, disease prevention and support for care pathways and relationships.
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Developing knowledge, research and education: We support the dissemination of Cultura e Salute through research activities, advanced training programmes and academic initiatives. We foster the development and sharing of projects and best practices, creating new opportunities in a constantly evolving field.
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Building connections between culture, healthcare and society: We encourage dialogue and collaboration between the cultural, healthcare and social sectors to generate impact on collective well-being, strengthen social quality and contribute to sustainable development.
Enhancing the role of arts and culture for health: We promote the use of arts and culture as concrete tools for well-being, health promotion, disease prevention and support for care pathways and relationships.
Developing knowledge, research and education: We support the dissemination of Cultura e Salute through research activities, advanced training programmes and academic initiatives. We foster the development and sharing of projects and best practices, creating new opportunities in a constantly evolving field.
Building connections between culture, healthcare and society: We encourage dialogue and collaboration between the cultural, healthcare and social sectors to generate impact on collective well-being, strengthen social quality and contribute to sustainable development.
Current Activities
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Clinical study “Art on Prescription” – a pilot cultural prescribing project, the first in Switzerland, investigating the impact of artistic and cultural activities on the well-being of people over 65 with chronic conditions. Promoted by the City of Lugano, IBSA Foundation for scientific research and the Institute of Family Medicine of USI, in collaboration with LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura and Pro Senectute Ticino, it aims to assess how non-clinical resources prescribed by general practitioners can improve quality of life, mental health and physiological parameters.
Activities Completed
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Cultura e Salute Course 2025 – “Doctors and Social Prescribing. Treating with sport, nature, culture and volunteering” was the fifth edition of the university course, held from October to December 2025 at USI. The course focused on social prescribing, a practice through which general practitioners can prescribe non-clinical community-based activities such as physical activity in nature, exposure to art and volunteering, promoting social inclusion. Nearly 700 participants attended.
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Cultura e Salute Course 2024 – “Art that Heals” was the fourth edition, held from October to December 2024 at USI. It explored how visual arts—from painting to photography—can influence health and well-being. Nearly 1,000 participants attended.
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Lugano Happiness Forum – held on 17–18 June 2024 at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, was the first forum in Switzerland dedicated to well-being and happiness. Over 500 participants explored the topic through psychology, neuroscience and sociology, with 22 international experts discussing cultural, social and economic factors influencing well-being.
Cultura e Salute Course 2025 – “Doctors and Social Prescribing. Treating with sport, nature, culture and volunteering” was the fifth edition of the university course, held from October to December 2025 at USI. The course focused on social prescribing, a practice through which general practitioners can prescribe non-clinical community-based activities such as physical activity in nature, exposure to art and volunteering, promoting social inclusion. Nearly 700 participants attended.
Cultura e Salute Course 2024 – “Art that Heals” was the fourth edition, held from October to December 2024 at USI. It explored how visual arts—from painting to photography—can influence health and well-being. Nearly 1,000 participants attended.
Lugano Happiness Forum – held on 17–18 June 2024 at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, was the first forum in Switzerland dedicated to well-being and happiness. Over 500 participants explored the topic through psychology, neuroscience and sociology, with 22 international experts discussing cultural, social and economic factors influencing well-being.