National Gallery Singapore has been designated Asia’s first Healing Arts Centre of Excellence by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, a global initiative supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
It joins prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Hall and the Scottish Ballet.

The appointment marks the beginning of Healing Arts Singapore, a nationwide effort to integrate arts into healthcare and mental well-being. The initiative will:

• Use art to support emotional health, reduce loneliness, and build community

• Launch evidence-based programmes to be studied and evaluated over two years

• Develop “social prescribing” pathways, where activities like museum visits, music, or creative workshops support mental health

• Contribute to global research on how arts improve public health outcomes

The Gallery already has initiatives like a calm room for visitors with sensory needs.
Pilot programmes will be announced in 2026, aiming to make the arts a formal part of Singapore’s health policy ecosystem.

Why This Is a Strong and Visionary Initiative for Singapore

Singapore’s designation of the National Gallery as a Healing Arts Centre of Excellence is more than a symbolic award — it represents a strategic and compassionate shift in how we approach public health.

For decades, health systems worldwide have focused heavily on clinical and pharmaceutical interventions. These are essential, but they do not always address the emotional, social, and psychological dimensions of well-being. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted this gap starkly. While billions were invested in medical technologies, many people survived the crisis because of art, music, creativity, and human connection.

Singapore’s initiative recognises an important truth:
Healing is not only medical — it is emotional, social, and cultural.

Here are three reasons why this move is particularly meaningful:

1. It humanises healthcare and reaches people conventional medicine often overlooks

Some individuals struggle with anxiety, loneliness, chronic stress, or postnatal depression — yet do not respond well to medication alone.
Arts-based interventions such as singing, painting, museum programmes, and creative workshops offer:

• non-threatening entry points into mental health support

• low-cost, high-impact community-based solutions

• opportunities for expression, belonging, and connection

This provides alternative pathways for healing, especially for those who fall between the cracks of traditional care.

2. It builds an evidence-based framework for the future of mental health

The Jameel Arts & Health Lab and WHO emphasise rigorous research.
By piloting programmes and studying outcomes scientifically, Singapore positions itself as a leader in evidence-driven arts-and-health policy.

This means future decisions will not rely on sentiment alone — they will be backed by measurable improvements in:

• mood

• social connectedness

• stress levels

• recovery

• long-term well-being

Such data is powerful and can influence funding, healthcare planning, and national policy.

3. It strengthens community bonds and enhances inclusion

Art has a unique ability to:

• bring people together

• bridge cultural and generational gaps

• give meaning and comfort during difficult times

Programmes like the Gallery’s calm room and inclusive workshops show that the arts can serve all ages, all backgrounds, and all abilities.

In a fast-paced society like Singapore, where stress, isolation, and burnout are widespread, investing in the arts as a public health tool is visionary and deeply humane.

A Forward-Thinking Step for a Healthier, More Compassionate Singapore

By embedding the arts into the national health ecosystem, Singapore affirms a broader definition of well-being — one that values not only physical survival but emotional flourishing.

This initiative demonstrates leadership, innovation, and empathy.

It signals a future where healthcare is not confined to hospitals, but integrated into everyday life through creativity, culture, and community.

It is, simply put, a wise and hopeful step toward a mentally healthier nation.