Creatives in Place evaluation highlights the power of creative connections in primary care

An independent evaluation of Arts Derbyshire’s Creatives in Place (CiP) pilot has found that embedding creative practitioners within GP practices can help build stronger connections between primary care, communities and the creative sector.

The eight-month pilot, delivered between December 2025 and July 2026 at Littlewick Medical Centre in Erewash and Hannage Brook Medical Centre in Wirksworth, explored the role of a creative practitioner working at the interface between healthcare and local life. Rather than simply delivering creative activities, the Creative in Place role focuses on listening, building relationships, identifying local assets and connecting people, organisations and services.

The independent evaluation, conducted by Studio Flourish CIC, found that the strongest outcomes were stronger cross-sector relationships and partnerships; increased confidence, knowledge and visibility of Creative Health; greater recognition of local creative practitioners and community assets; new opportunities for collaboration and shared learning; and emerging strategic conversations about embedding Creative Health within local systems.

One of the clearest findings was the importance of the Creative in Place role as a connector. Across both locations, the practitioners developed relationships with GP staff, social prescribing teams, community organisations, artists, wellbeing practitioners and residents, helping to strengthen connections between existing people, resources and opportunities.

The evaluation also identified significant ripple effects beyond the original programme activities. These included new partnerships, commissions and funding opportunities; increased confidence among practitioners and partners; greater awareness of Creative Health; participants becoming advocates and champions; and creative approaches beginning to influence the design of health interventions. The pilot has also contributed to wider conversations about Creative Health across Derbyshire and the development of future strategic approaches.

Importantly, the evaluation is clear that it is too early to evidence sustained systems change or longer-term health outcomes. Instead, the pilot has created many of the conditions from which that change could emerge — including stronger networks, shared leadership, increased confidence and greater collaboration across creative health, public health, primary care and community sectors.

The report concludes that the greatest contribution of Creatives in Place has been its ability to “build relationships, connect existing assets and create momentum for future creative health development.”

For Arts Derbyshire, this provides an important foundation for the next phase of the work: moving beyond individual activities to embed creative approaches within existing systems, strengthen community ownership and share the learning so that creative health can become a more sustainable part of how primary care connects with and supports its communities.