The Art Gallery of New South Wales, in collaboration with the Black Dog Institute, has unveiled significant findings from its Culture Dose for Kids program, highlighting its effectiveness in reducing anxiety among children aged 9–12. This pioneering initiative integrates arts and mental health strategies to support youth and families, particularly in areas impacted by natural disasters.
The program, delivered to more than 540 parents and children across the Art Gallery of New South Wales and 14 regional galleries, was designed to address anxiety and improve social connectedness. According to research by the Black Dog Institute, children who participated experienced notable improvements.
The eight-week pilot program, held between May and June 2022, resulted in a 29% reduction in anxiety and depression scores based on parent evaluations and a 15% decrease according to self-reported data from participants. These outcomes underscore the program’s potential to deliver meaningful mental health benefits.
“Programs like Culture Dose for Kids provide creative, innovative solutions, but more funding is essential to expand their reach and impact,” said Professor Katherine Boydell, the program’s chief investigator and director of the arts-based knowledge translation lab at Black Dog Institute. “As we approach another hot summer and the end of a busy year, it’s important to remember that art can nourish and revive us.”
One of the program’s unique aspects is its dual focus on parent and child participation, fostering collective growth and support within families. The initiative provided parents with practical strategies to address mental health challenges, a significant concern in Australia, where one in seven children experience anxiety before the age of 14.
Danielle Gullotta, senior access programs producer at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, emphasized the importance of creating a safe and positive environment. “Our Culture Dose for Kids program allows participants to observe, describe, imagine, and interpret a work of art in a positive and safe environment. By regularly engaging in art-making experiences and open-ended interpretation of artworks, individuals can process ideas and concepts that can be difficult to express in words,” she said.
The initiative is informed by the Art Gallery’s previous inclusive programs, such as Starting with Art and Art and Dementia. The Jibb Foundation supported the research.