Impact Arts launches manifesto to tackle inequality & poverty through creativity

Thu 22nd January 2026

For the first time, Scottish arts charity Impact Arts is sharing a manifesto, urging Scotland’s leaders to invest in art programmes as a way to tackle inequality and poverty.

We’re advocating for the people we support and amplifying their voices.

Impact Through Art: Tackling Inequality & Poverty in Scotland

A Manifesto by Impact Arts

Our Vision: A Scotland where people and communities benefit from life-transforming creativity that tackles inequalities and addresses poverty.

Our Ask: Impact Arts urges Scotland’s leaders to invest in life-changing arts-based and creative approaches which can build a more inclusive, stronger, and imaginative society able to address societal inequalities and poverty.

WELLBEING

1) Recognise Creative Engagement as a Public Health Approach12

Give equal recognition to participation in the arts alongside traditionally recognised health improvement approaches such as participation in sports and physical activity and healthy eating. Scientific evidence demonstrates the physical and mental benefits for all ages and communities including those who experience poverty and inequality from taking part in creative activities.

This upholds Article 31 of the UNCRC which recognises children’s rights to a cultural and artistic life.

2) Improve Access to Creative Preventative Mental Health Approaches34

Recognise that engagement in quality creative activities promotes wellbeing and improves mental health.5

Creative approaches address the mental health crisis through early intervention, preventing escalation of mental health problems and aiding recovery.

Long-term community-based interventions support mental and physical health, reduce loneliness and improve social connections.

3) Ensure Access to Arts-Based Therapies for Children Facing Trauma and Poverty6

Promote arts-based therapies as a core element of individual school learning plans for children who have experience of trauma, poverty and inequality.

Evidence from Impact Arts’ Primary School Art Therapy programme shows measurable improvements in confidence and self-esteem, resilience and coping strategies.

Younger children often struggle to articulate trauma; creative therapies offer accessible, effective alternatives to traditional counselling.

4) Embed Creative, Flexible and Person-Centred Approaches into Whole Family Wellbeing

Recognise that each family’s experience is unique, and that creative and responsive approaches to needs are highly effective.

Impact Arts’ experience of delivering whole family support demonstrates that a flexible, person-centred, partnership approach achieves the greatest impact on family wellbeing.

5) Support Creative Ageing to Bring Joy to Later Years7

Ensure that all older people, including those living in poverty, have access to creative activities, which reduce isolation and improve wellbeing.

Through academic research, Craft Café has demonstrated the health and social benefits of long term, regular engagement in creative activity and group projects for older people both in community and care home settings.

LIFE CHANCES

6) Increase Access to Quality Arts-Based Education & Employment Programmes89

Increase availability of creative service delivery and innovative approaches to educational attainment and employability.

Creative methodologies are successful in engaging people and communities who are racialised and marginalised, especially where other interventions have failed.

Creative engagement is effective in giving people a voice and encouraging self-expression, delivered out with traditional classroom settings and through practical hands-on learning techniques.

7) Support Neurodiverse Young People Through Quality Arts & Creativity Projects1011

Champion the impact of quality arts-based projects in supporting neurodiverse young people. Quality creative arts based projects can significantly improve emotional regulation, concentration, confidence, and social connection for autistic and ADHD young people.

Impact Arts’ creative youth projects demonstrate that neurodiverse young people who struggle in traditional learning environments engage more consistently and are better able to express themselves and to communicate their thoughts and ideas.

8) Promote Creative Home-Making as Key to Sustaining Tenancies & Preventing Homelessness12

Prioritise engagement of new tenants in creative home making projects to sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness.

Evidence from Impact Arts’ Make It Your Own model demonstrates that creative home-making empowers tenants and supports tenancy sustainment through creative personalisation of homes, helping to prevent homelessness.

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

9) Celebrate Creative Placemaking13

Prioritise arts in regeneration strategies, recognising it as the catalyst for enlivening our towns and communities.

Creativity is a powerful methodology for engaging diverse communities and under heard voices, bringing communities together, and instigating future community regeneration projects.

Impact Arts urges Scotland’s leaders to embed creativity across public policy. By investing in arts-based and creative approaches, we can build a more inclusive, stronger, and imaginative society.

“This manifesto sets out a clear vision for a Scotland where creativity is recognised as essential to tackling inequality and poverty. It reflects the voices and experiences of the people and communities we work with every day who too often feel left behind. For decades, Impact Arts has seen first hand how arts-based approaches transform their lives through improving wellbeing, strengthening communities, and developing life chances. Ahead of the 2026 Scottish elections, we urge decision makers to recognise the arts as a vital part of building a fairer, healthier, and more connected Scotland.” – Fiona Doring, CEO of Impact Arts

Impact Arts is a community arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering creative arts and support programmes for children, young people, adults, families, and older people who are facing disadvantages or barriers to progress in life. Our mission is to tackle inequalities, address poverty, and transform lives through art and creativity.  

References

  1. CultureAct — Culture Counts Culture Counts call upon all political parties to support a Culture Act in the next Scottish Parliament  ↩︎
  2. ARTS CULTURE HEALTH WELLBEING SCOTLAND ↩︎
  3. VHS Manifesto for Health Creation Promoting a prevention centred health system ↩︎
  4. Professor Daisy Fancourt speaks at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Creative Health – SBRG ↩︎
  5. Arts, creative health and wellbeing – National Academy for Social Prescribing | NASP ↩︎
  6. 145afa_187b60c269f4497fbe1af42447ec67a9.pdf A wider range of services, open to all children and young people, including appropriate non-clinical supports. ↩︎
  7. Social isolation and loneliness: Recovering our Connections 2023 to 2026 – gov.scot ↩︎
  8. Creative | My World of Work ↩︎
  9. No One Left Behind: employability strategic plan 2024 to 2027 – gov.scot provides flexible and person-centred support. ↩︎
  10. Advocacy Framework — Children’s and Youth Arts Advocacy ↩︎
  11. Seizing The Moment | Scottish Autism Improve support for autistic learners and an end to informal exclusions in education. ↩︎
  12. Manifesto-30102525.pdf Everyone Home Collective, Housing Justice Lack of prevention focus to be tackled. ↩︎
  13. SURF-2026-Manifesto-Phase-One-Research.pdf  Sustainable funding and removing invisible barriers. ↩︎

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