Critical Connections is the arts and health development programme for Yorkshire and The Humber.

This Arts Council England, Yorkshire initiative, in partnership with the Regional Public Health Group, is currently dormant while discussions take place regarding future activity.

The original shared policy objectives which formed the focus of the Critical Connections programme were:

• Working with young people & children
• Healthy communities; supporting, empowering, transforming
• Workforce development (in creative, health, care and community sectors)
• Healthy buildings and environments: for example Private Finance Initiatives (PFI), Local Area Investment Initiatives (LIFT) and Procure 21 (P21) in healthcare and other community / regeneration settings

There remains a growing body of arts and health practitioners, projects and partnerships across the region whose work is contributing to these objectives. This website can provide those working in the arts and healthcare sectors with access to useful information, contacts and a range of guides that may help them to establish and sustain high quality and effective arts projects and interventions that have a positive impact on the health of the region.