New Books Network Daisy Fancourt, "Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives" (Cornerstone Press, 2026)
Jan 23, 2026
In this engaging discussion, Daisy Fancourt, a Professor at University College London and author of "Art Cure," explores the profound health benefits of the arts. She shares insights on how arts engagement can enhance emotional well-being and reduce stress through biological mechanisms like dopamine activation. Fancourt delves into the extra benefits of dance over exercise and discusses the positive impact of music on pre-surgery stress. She also highlights barriers to arts access and proposes solutions to increase public engagement, framing art as vital for both individual health and social change.
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Arts In Hospitals Changed Her Career
- Daisy Fancourt recounts designing arts programmes in NHS hospitals and seeing direct patient benefits daily.
- She observed children with burns distracted from pain and dementia patients who could sing despite memory loss.
Arts Trigger Reward And Reduce Stress
- Arts activate brain reward networks causing dopamine release during tension-and-resolution moments.
- They also reduce physiological stress markers like heart rate, cortisol, and inflammation.
Beware Overclaiming Arts Effects
- Fancourt warns against overclaims like the Mozart effect or music affecting cancer cells in Petri dishes.
- She stresses ethical boundaries and careful interpretation of weak or sensational findings.
