Can art help you live longer? Researcher Daisy Fancourt makes the case

A growing body of research suggests that engaging with the arts, from painting to music to theater, may do more than entertain: it could also support physical and mental health. That is the argument put forward by Daisy Fancourt, a professor at University College London, in an interview on France 24's program Entre Nous with host Delano D'Souza.

Fancourt, who studies the links between the arts and health, has compiled scientific evidence in her book "Art Cure" examining how creative and cultural activities can influence the brain and body. In the interview, she discusses findings from her research into how participation in the arts may be associated with improved wellbeing.

The conversation touches on how arts-based interventions are increasingly explored as a complement to conventional medical and psychological treatment, reflecting growing interest among researchers and health practitioners in non-pharmacological approaches to health.

Fancourt's work sits within a field often described as "arts in health," which has drawn attention from public health bodies looking for low-cost, accessible ways to support population wellbeing alongside traditional medical care.