Abstract

This paper presents a short critical discussion of the state of the art of the health and cultural welfare debate and policy experience in the light of the available body of research and practice. It is argued that cultural welfare may indeed become a major policy theme in the coming decades, but this requires a major effort in research and experimentation and a path-breaking effort of dialogue between the arts and culture sphere and the medical and social service one. Some specific remarks are developed with respect to one of the key fields - namely, active ageing - as a laboratory for innovative macroeconomic policies in a cultural welfare perspective.