Launching C3-WELL: Where creativity meets care

Supporting creative professionals' mental health and well-being

Under our leadership, the Erasmus+ C3-WELL international working group has been officially launched. The mission of the project is to pioneer the connection between the cultural-creative sector and health and social care systems. The €250,000, 24-month initiative aims to develop a structured methodology for integrating arts-based interventions in the service of mental health and social well-being.

When Art Heals – The C3-WELL Project Vision

On November 18, in the heart of Budapest at the historic Benczúr Hotel, we gathered with representatives from creative industry organizations across six European countries to officially launch the Culture, Creativity, and Care: Testing Arts-Based Models for Well-being (C3-WELL) project. The timeliness of this initiative is evident from the fact that one in six people in the European Union faces mental health challenges, while the therapeutic effects of cultural and artistic activities are scientifically proven, yet remain underutilized in healthcare systems.

International Collaboration for Change

As coordinator, we have created a unique international consortium with our long-term partners, with whom we have already collaborated on several successful EU projects. This proven cooperation provides a strong foundation for C3-WELL as well – each partner contributes with their specific expertise to our common goal, while the European collaboration operates as an effective cultural and knowledge-sharing platform. We learn much from each other and mutually support our "sister" organizations in other European countries, consolidating our position as competence centers in the cultural and creative sectors.

MAO (Slovenia) – Our Ljubljana-based partner has decades of experience in creative business incubation. In the C3-WELL project, they are responsible for connecting creative entrepreneurial skills with social innovation, demonstrating how artistic activities can be combined with sustainable business models in the social sector.

Puglia Creativa (Italy) – Our Italian partner is particularly strong in policy innovation. Their task will be to transform our project results into policy recommendations and to engage regional and national decision-makers in institutionalizing cultural well-being practices.

TREE Agency (Estonia) – As specialists in digital storytelling and community engagement, TREE is responsible for developing our project's digital matchmaking platform, which will connect cultural professionals with health and social institutions across Europe.

GAIA / Basque District of Culture and Creativity (Spain) – The Basque cultural district brings to our project their experience in digital transformation and cross-sectoral collaboration. Their contribution to the design and implementation of pilot programs is particularly valuable.

Creative Estonia (Estonia) – As an organization skilled in export strategies and business development, they open new dimensions for creative professionals in finding employment in health and social sectors.

What Did We Achieve at the Kick-off Meeting?

During the Budapest meeting, we not only reaffirmed our multi-year partnerships but also defined concrete work plans and areas of responsibility:

Final Distribution of Work Packages

Each partner has taken on tasks best suited to their expertise. As lead partner, we coordinate overall project management and oversee quality assurance.

24-Month Timeline

We elaborated in detail the project milestones, pilot program scheduling, and development phases of training modules. The first learning labs will launch in early 2026.

Budget Allocation

We clarified the distribution of the €250,000 budget among partners, ensuring that every organization has the necessary resources to complete their tasks.

Definition of Concrete Results

• Involvement of at least 500 citizens in innovative cultural activities

• Development of training and capacity-building toolkit

• Elaboration of policy recommendations

• Creation of digital platform

  
  

Special Program: Visit to ERLA Film Studio

Alongside the official program, our international partners visited our cluster member, ERLA Film studio. This was not merely a courtesy visit – ERLA represents precisely the innovative, technology-driven approach that defines the future of the creative sector.

Our partners met Bíró Ada, Hungary's first AI television presenter, developed by ERLA Film. Ada's story perfectly illustrates how cutting-edge technology can be combined with human creativity – the same philosophy that guides us in the C3-WELL project in connecting art and healthcare.

Why Is C3-WELL Important?

The Scale of the Problem

According to the European Commission's "Health at a Glance: Europe 2022" report, mental health challenges extend far beyond medical issues. Economic instability, loneliness, and limited access to cultural and educational resources all contribute to the problem.

The Potential of Cultural Solutions

The CultureForHealth Report (2022) confirms that cultural participation reduces stress, anxiety, and isolation. Nevertheless, structural gaps hinder effective collaboration between cultural organizations and healthcare providers.

C3-WELL's Innovation

Our project brings four key innovations:

• Formal pathway for cultural professionals – Comprehensive training, structured pilot programs, and institutional support

• Transnational mobility – Opportunity for cross-border exchange of best practices

• Digital matchmaking hub – Specialized platform for building lasting partnerships

• Policy influence – Concrete recommendations for sustainable financing

What Can We Expect in the Coming Months?

Our project is now entering the intensive implementation phase:

December 2025 – February 2026: Best practice research and mapping in all partner countries

March – June 2026: Cross-sectoral workshops and matchmaking events

Second half of 2026: Launch of pilot programs in all five countries

2027: Evaluation of results, finalization of policy recommendations, full deployment of digital platform

Join Us!

The success of the C3-WELL project depends on the active participation of creative professionals, healthcare workers, and social workers. If you're interested in how art and culture can be utilized in the service of mental health and social well-being, follow our project developments!

We will soon announce the first training opportunities and pilot programs. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to learn about opportunities!

Further Information:

Email: info@kikk.hu

The C3-WELL project is implemented with the support of the European Union's Erasmus+ programme.