October 2, 2025 | Registration is now open – AWAKE final event for arts and wellbeing

Curious about transforming your passion for the arts and health into a sustainable professional path?

We are excited to announce that the registration is now open for the final event of the project AWAKE: Arts & Wellbeing as a Creative Business and Future Livelihood!

You will be able to join us either physically in Helsinki, Finland, or online. Connect with like-minded professionals while discovering practical entrepreneurial tools, inspiring case studies, and new ideas that are shaping the future in this emerging field. This international, one-day event is open to a wide audience, including artists, creative entrepreneurs, cultural workers, and wellbeing professionals. Registration deadline for the event: 28.09.25

Register at the link below!
https://forms.gle/evUkJKG2MbyE6QtR7
 

Practical info & registration

Time:

October 2nd, 2025  – 9.00-12.40 and workshops 13.50-16.40. All times EET.
(Online attendance is provided only for the first part of the event) 

Event place:
Lapinlahden Lahde, Helsinki (Finland), and Online
Lapinlahdenpolku 8 00180 Helsinki  –  https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZRZy2QgAzhBJBvtt8 

Other info: Free of charge (registration required); Coffee and lunch are provided for on-site participants

Context

The arts and health sector is experiencing significant global growth, with a rising number of activities. However, current cross-sector collaborations in this field often consist of short-term, project-based initiatives, primarily driven by the dedication of organizers. Sustaining these arts and well-being initiatives is a persistent challenge, as continuous activities supported by stable funding are uncommon. 

It’s to address this very challenge that the AWAKE project embarked on its journey from November 2023 to October 2025. This project empowers professionals by offering insights, inspiration, and practical tools to navigate this emerging field. 

AWAKE’s final event, happening on October 2nd in Helsinki, will present the project’s key findings and resources. This international event is open to everyone interested in themes such as arts, culture, health and well-being, creative entrepreneurship, and international cooperation.  

We sincerely hope the creative professionals and artists attending will feel inspired to explore the field of arts and wellbeing further – and, perhaps, to take meaningful next steps in their own practice!

Event agenda

You can expect a diverse program including: 

• Keynote talks,
• A panel discussion on building resilient business models in the arts and wellbeing sector, and being an artist-entrepreneur in this field
• Parallel afternoon workshops focusing on sustainable business modelling, future skills for arts & wellbeing practitioners, and cross-sectoral co-creation with healthcare and community partners. The precise agenda will be shared with registered participants closer to the event.

About AWAKE and its activities

The project AWAKE: Arts & Wellbeing as a Creative Business and Future Livelihood strives to raise awareness of arts and wellbeing as a viable field of work, mapping how artists can access the health sector and identifying existing entry points. 

Through its project activities, over the past two years AWAKE delivered practical learning and fostered the professionalisation of the arts and wellbeing sector. Its content and communications are expected to reach between 50,000 and 100,000 people worldwide. 

Examples of AWAKE’s past activities include: 

• An expert roundtable on arts, wellbeing, and creative livelihoods that was held on April 11, 2024, with the recording available. 

• Five online masterclasses exploring sector-specific topics. Resources are free and open to all. 

• A casebook of business models in the arts & wellbeing sector published in March 2025, featuring in-depth profiles of five successful arts & wellbeing ventures across Europe and highlighting core lessons. 

• A cross-sectoral hackathon where, in May 2025, 50+ creatives joined a three-day online innovation sprint to co-develop culture and wellbeing solutions with expert support.

Learn more about AWAKE’s achievements here

Practical information

The event language is English. A detailed agenda will be sent to all enrolled participants closer to the event. Note: Participation is only possible by filling in the registration form at the link above.  

Organizers and project funding

Co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union, the “AWAKE: Arts & Wellbeing As a Creative Business and Future Livelihood” project has been implemented by the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture in close partnership with The Lapinlahti hospital – Centre for Culture, Arts and Mental Well-being (Lapinlahden Lähde) from Finland, Cluj Cultural Centre (Centrul Cultural Clujean) from Romania, and The Culture & Health Center (Pôle Culture et Santé Nouvelle Aquitaine) from France.