Creative Health Economics: The Economic Business Case for Creative Health

The Mobilising Community Assets team has led a programme of work focused on establishing the foundations for a stronger economic case for creative health. Despite a growing evidence base, the absence of a clearly defined business case for commissioning remains a significant barrier to closer collaboration between the creative health sector and health systems. The interdisciplinary team, including economists, social scientists, and community organisations, has developed new guidance on economic evaluation in creative health through four reports, providing tailored recommendations for different audiences.

Main Findings: 

McNeill, E., Newton, U., de Andrade, M., Fancourt, D., Fujiwara, D., Mudra, J., et al & Chatterjee, H.J.  (2026) Creative Health Economics: Building the foundations for a commission-ready sector. London: University College London. Available at: https://ncch.org.uk/uploads/Creative-Health-Economics-Building-the-foundations-for-a-commission-ready-sector.pdf 

For providers of Creative Health:

McNeill, E., Newton, U., de Andrade, M., Fancourt, D., Fujiwara, D., Segarra, E., Muelas, A., Ruiz, C., Frier, R., Chapman, L., Thomson, L.J. et al. & Chatterjee, H.J.  (2026) Delivering Commission-ready Creative Health: The Economic Business Case for Investment. London: University College London. Available at:  https://ncch.org.uk/uploads/Delivering-Commission-ready-Creative-Health-The-Economic-Business-Case-for-Investment.pdf 

For those commissioning Creative Health:

McNeill, E., Newton, U., de Andrade, M., Fancourt, D., Fujiwara, D., Mundra, J., Moss, D., Rule, E., Hobart, E., Sutcliffe, A. et al. & Chatterjee, H.J.  (2026). Creative Health Commissioning:  An economic business case for improving population health and reducing health inequalities. London: University College London. Available at: Creative Health Commissioning: An economic business case for improving population health and reducing health inequalities

For those undertaking Public Sector evaluation:

Fujiwara, D., Dolan, P., Muelas, A., Segarra, E., Ruiz, C., Newton, U., McNeill, E., de Andrade, M., Fancourt, D., Mundra, J. et al. and Chatterjee, H.J. (2026). Guidelines on Economic Evaluation in Creative Health. London: University College London. Available at: https://ncch.org.uk/uploads/Guidelines-on-Economic-Evaluation-in-Creative-Health.pdf 

For a comprehensive repository of published economic evaluations identified through this Creative Health Economics series, please see the full economic evaluation reference list: Creative Health Economic Evaluations Reference List.

MCA Creative Health Economics Team

• Prof Helen Chatterjee MBE (MCA Programme Director, UCL)
• Dr Elaine McNeill (UCL)
• Prof Daisy Fancourt (UCL)
• Dr Daniel Fujiwara (TSC Impact & Harmon)
• Professor Paul Dolan (London School of Economics)
• Uisce Newton (University of Edinburgh)
• Prof Marisa de Andrade (University of Edinburgh)
• Alberto Muelas (Harmon Consulting)
• Elena Segarra (Harmon Consulting)
• Carlos Ruiz (Harmon Consulting)
• Jag Mundra (National Academy for Social Prescribing)

The MCA Creative Health Economics Team are extremely grateful to many wonderful contributors and collaborators from across health and culture. Please read the individual reports to see details of our collaborators.

For further information contact: community.assets@ucl.ac.uk