Art, Community & Mental Health - An Invitation to Collaborate

An invitation to partners across Europe

EMHO is an independent initiative in formation. I am inviting academic, public, philanthropic, cultural and private-sector organisations to discuss a proposed programme connecting participatory art, community life and mental well-being. The aim is to build collaborations around specific local needs, realistic resources and transparent evaluation.

An initial conversation would establish whether our interests align, what each party could contribute and which legal entity would take responsibility for any proposed work. No organisation named elsewhere on this website is implied to be a confirmed partner.

Academic hosting and doctoral research

I am an artist and prospective doctoral researcher seeking an academic host, supervisors and third-party financing for Art, Leisure & Pleasure: Participatory Art Practices as Ecosystems for Connection and Wellbeing. The proposed outputs include an artistic research portfolio and a substantial written monograph. Admission, supervision and ethics approval remain to be agreed.

The developing three-stage plan connects community fieldwork in Portugal, with Tamera as a prospective site subject to agreement, an urban artistic laboratory in Antwerp drawing on Spirit+Studio and Kunstmarkt.be, and a further educational, public or care-related institutional setting agreed with the academic host. A possible Geneva connection remains exploratory.

Academic partners could help define the research questions, methods, ethical safeguards and appropriate evaluation. Findings must remain open to criticism and negative conclusions. The full essay explains the intellectual and practical questions in greater detail.

Public-private pilots and local delivery

Public institutions, cultural organisations and community hosts could help identify suitable spaces and local needs. Foundations and companies could explore financing, operational expertise or agreed contributions in kind. These are possible contributions for discussion, not existing commitments.

A first pilot would need a defined non-clinical scope, an accountable operator, suitable facilitators, accessible participation, a costed delivery plan and agreed evaluation. Professional healthcare would remain the responsibility of appropriately qualified and authorised providers.

The approach is to co-design a limited project, review participation and unintended effects, assess costs and practical feasibility, and publish appropriately reviewed learning before considering wider adaptation. No clinical effectiveness or investment return is promised.

Franchise and licensing as possible development tools

A longer-term ambition is to explore locally operated arts-and-community environments across Europe. Kunstmarkt.be and the ART+Ecosystem could contribute artistic formats, cultural programming and operational experience, while EMHO could develop knowledge exchange and accountable partnerships. These roles would require explicit agreements.

A franchise could involve an agreed identity, operating framework, training and support. A licence could cover narrower rights to specified materials or formats. Their suitability, accessibility, costs, local autonomy and safeguards would first need to be tested. They are not currently offered for purchase through this page.

Any future agreements would need to identify the contracting parties, rights actually owned or licensed, fees, responsibilities, quality requirements, complaints processes and conflicts of interest. A decision not to replicate a model would remain a legitimate outcome.

Funding and philanthropic collaboration

Potential support could cover doctoral work, community fieldwork, a venue, artistic research production, evaluation expertise or a separately budgeted local pilot. Doctoral research, EMHO operations and commercial development would have distinct budgets and agreements.

ART+GALA is a proposed annual fundraising flagship within the ART+Ecosystem, with an ambition to contribute to defined EMHO projects. A possible Monte Carlo edition remains at concept stage. Any production costs, sponsor benefits and net proceeds would need transparent accounting, with the receiving entity and terms established before collecting funds.

The wider intention is responsible public value and sustainable participation. This page does not claim secured funding, tax-deductible donations, proven programme impact or confirmed institutional backing.

Start with a focused conversation

Please tell us your organisation, your role, the countries or communities relevant to your work, and whether you could contribute academic hosting, financing, space, delivery capacity or research expertise. An indicative contribution range and decision timetable can help us scope a useful first discussion.

We would then discuss fit, responsibilities, a possible work package and the evidence needed before committing resources. Contacting us creates no partnership, financial obligation or agreement to participate in research.

For research and organisational enquiries: contact@emho.org. You can also use the collaboration enquiry page linked below.