A NAPA programme highlighting the wellbeing benefits of arts, creativity and cultural engagement in care settings – funded by The Baring Foundation and The Rayne Foundation.
NAPA champions the vital role of arts and creativity in care settings – from funded national programmes to an annual day of celebration, and everything in between.
Arts and creativity have a unique role in care, helping people connect with their identity, express what words can’t reach, and feel part of something larger. Arts in Care Homes connects practitioners, artists and care services across the UK around this shared belief.
Programme dates: 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2029
NAPA’s Creativity and Arts Programme is a three-year national programme that will strengthen how arts, activity and creativity are supported in care homes across the UK.
There is already a huge amount of creative and cultural activity taking place in care homes. Activity Providers offer daily programmes, artists and arts organisations deliver sessions, charities and community groups support engagement, and many care homes are doing outstanding work. But too often this work is fragmented, inconsistent and difficult to sustain. Access to high-quality creative opportunities can depend on postcode, short-term funding or individual staff confidence. This programme will address that challenge by building the national infrastructure needed to connect care homes and cultural partners, strengthen practice, improve consistency and make creativity a more normal part of everyday care.
Our Aim – The aim of the Creativity in Care Homes Programme is to establish NAPA as the national hub for arts, activity and creativity in care homes, creating a coordinated system that improves access, quality, sustainability and sector learning.
Arts and creative engagement improve wellbeing, strengthen community, reduce isolation, and give people a way to express identity and share experience regardless of age or ability.
Our work in this area spans funded programmes with national arts partners, an annual national day celebrated across hundreds of care settings, practical resources for activity providers, and advocacy for arts to be embedded in everyday care provision.
As we begin our new three-year Creativity and Arts Programme, we want to understand what creativity and arts provision looks like across care settings today. Whether you’re an activity provider, care leader, artist, arts organisation, community group, volunteer or someone involved in bringing creativity into care, we want to hear from you.
Your experiences, ideas and insights will help us build a programme that reflects the needs of the sector, celebrates great practice and supports creativity to flourish for everyone receiving care.
A NAPA programme highlighting the wellbeing benefits of arts, creativity and cultural engagement in care settings – funded by The Baring Foundation and The Rayne Foundation.
The annual celebration of arts in care — a national day when care settings across the UK come together to create, share and celebrate.
Creative activity has the power to support wellbeing, identity, connection and quality of life for people living in care homes. Yet provision is uneven, and many homes face barriers including lack of time, confidence, guidance and trusted partners. Many artists and cultural organisations also want to work in care settings but need clearer support around safe, effective and dementia-informed practice.
NAPA is uniquely placed to respond at a national level by providing:
The programme is designed to create a step change in how creativity is supported in care homes by 2029. It will deliver:
This programme will help build the long-term foundations that make creativity in care homes routine, sustainable and high quality.
The programme is built around five key levers:
Creating a directory, brokerage routes, partnership tools and practical guidance.
Developing the confidence and skills of both care staff and cultural practitioners.
Establishing shared standards and a practical framework for safe, effective creative practice.
Building Communities of Practice and national learning spaces that reduce isolation and encourage improvement.
Using national convening, storytelling and shared sector learning to raise expectations and visibility.
National Hub and Liaison Function – NAPA will act as the central point of connection for arts and activity in care homes. This includes a national directory, partnership support and practical tools such as commissioning guidance, safeguarding templates and evaluation guidance.
Communities of Practice – Two Communities of Practice will be established over the three-year programme:
Monthly National Learning Programme – A monthly programme of learning sessions will bring together care homes and cultural partners to share practice, build relationships and showcase effective approaches. Sessions will also be recorded and made accessible through NAPA’s Learning Space.
Guidelines, Standards and Quality Framework – NAPA will co-produce national guidance and a quality framework for arts and activity in care homes, rooted in resident voice and real-world practice. This will support safeguarding, inclusion, accessibility, dementia-informed practice, partnership working and impact evaluation.
Digital Platform and E-Learning – The programme will strengthen NAPA’s digital infrastructure so that learning and resources are accessible nationally. E-learning will support both care staff and arts practitioners and help professionalise creative work in care settings.
National Convening and Public Profile – NAPA will continue to lead the National Day of Arts in Care Homes and coordinate annual national creative projects that increase visibility, participation and shared identity across the sector.
A central aim of the programme is to reduce postcode inequality and ensure access to creativity is not limited to well-resourced homes. NAPA will actively engage smaller, independent and rural care homes and ensure resources are practical, inclusive, dementia-informed and accessible.
The programme is designed to leave lasting assets for the sector, including guidance, standards, e-learning, a directory, brokerage approaches and Communities of Practice. These outputs will be embedded into NAPA’s ongoing services, with scope for future partner support and earned income.
To find out more about the Creativity and Arts Programme, partnership opportunities, learning opportunities or how to get involved, please contact: programmes@napa-activities.co.uk
High-quality activity provision doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built by skilled professionals who combine creativity, empathy, organisation and professional judgement.
NAPA membership gives your team the evidence-informed guidance, ongoing development and trusted national network they need to make every day meaningful for the people in your care.