Research and development

We research and develop the field of cultural wellbeing

We are running several research and development projects in the field of cultural well-being. Find out more about our work in research and development in the field on these pages!

Kuvituskuva, jossa eri ikäisiä ihmisiä pitämässä toisiaan hartioista kiinni. Kuvassa on lempeä tunnelma.

Ongoing research projects and initiatives

Tensions and dimensions of cultural well-being field

This body of research examines the concepts, dimensions and definitions related to cultural well-being, as well as the meanings and perceptions attached to quality in practices and environments that combine creativity, art, health and well-being. The goal is to promote understanding of the diversity of the field of cultural well-being.

Children, families, and social sustainability profiling area

The University of Jyväskylä’s profiling area “Children, families and social sustainability” finds out how different environments and opportunities affect the growth and development of children and young people and the well-being of families.

Creativity and arts activities as a work concept and a catalyst for change in the social and health sectors

We study creativity and cultural well-being, e.g., in the environments of family social work, adult social work and elderly care. The research project consists of many sub-studies, which investigate creativity and arts activities as a force for change in multidisciplinary work in the social and health fields in various operating environments.

The MUSICONNECT project

The MUSICONNECT project, funded by the European Research Commission, studies music as a resource in young people’s lives – especially as emotions and bodily interaction.

Center of excellence for music, mind, body and brain research

The Center of Excellence coordinated by the University of Jyväskylä studies music as a multimodal experience and a catalyst for change throughout the life cycle, in health and illness.

Expanding professionalism and audience outreach work of musicians

The research focuses on musicians’ expanding professionalism and audience outreach work as part of it. The research analyzes the professional skills of orchestra musicians and the development needs in the field of audience outreach work when it is being established as one of the key dimensions of musicians’ work.

Ongoing development projects

The project “Looking for new tunes

In the “Looking for new tunes” project, a multidisciplinary musical activity concept meets the needs of families in informal care situations and promotes community-building. Music-making strengthens families’ resources, well-being and reduces loneliness experienced by families in informal care situations. In the project, a structural model of cooperation between municipalities and regional social and cultural actors is built to implement health-promoting arts activities.

And Beyond – Men’s creative paths to work life 

“And Beyond” project develops approaches that use creativity to deal with gender segregation in the labor market among young people. Through workshops and experiments organized for young people, concrete work tools are assembled and trainings are implemented for professionals.