Arts and Humanities Health Research Landscape Survey

Overview

Arts and Humanities Health Research Landscape Survey

Background & Introduction

Since 2012, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has supported a substantial and evolving portfolio of health research, comprising over 650 awards totalling over £130 million of recorded investment.

The AHRC health portfolio covers a highly interdisciplinary field of research which examines the human experience of health and provides deeper insights into the cultural, ethical, and social dimensions of health outcomes.

This research spans areas such as mental health, arts & wellbeing, healthy ageing, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), digital health and AI, history of medicine, health and medical humanities, and healthcare ethics. It can reach across a wide range of AHRC subjects. Projects may, for example, use performing arts as therapeutic interventions, explore personal health experiences through creative practices, apply philosophy or the law to healthcare contexts, or examine how cultural context can impact public health messaging.

Arts and humanities led health research encompasses a wide range of disciplines, methods and perspectives. We are seeking insights from researchers, practitioners and stakeholders across academia, communities, the third sector, industry and policy to help inform the strategic direction of arts and humanities led health research in the short, medium and longer term.

This survey aims to:

• Understand who across the health research communities has an interest in Arts and Humanities in health research
• Understand where there are key research gaps and challenges for the Arts and Humanities in health research
• Identify and prioritise future research priorities for the Arts and Humanities in health research, and the relationships of future priorities to wider UKRI and government strategic priority areas
• Identify opportunities for collaboration, translation and impact, including understanding existing and potential new partnerships and co-funders

Survey introduction

Thank you for taking the time to participate in this survey.

As we continue to develop our portfolio we are keen to engage with our community at the widest possible level. 

Your responses will play an important role in shaping AHRC’s future strategic thinking and ensuring that this reflects the full breadth, diversity and societal value of work in this field.

We estimate that the survey will take approximately 25–30 minutes to complete, depending on the level of detail you wish to provide. All responses will be analysed in aggregate.

If you require this survey in an alternative format or need an accommodation to enable your participation, please contact heuh@ahrc.ukri.org.

How we will use your responses

Your personal data submitted in section one of the survey will be processed to conduct analysis of the health humanities stakeholder landscape. We will then anonymise all responses to carry out our analysis of the remaining sections of the survey. No personal data will be shared with any organisation outside of AHRC or processed for any other purpose outside of this activity.

With your consent you may be contacted by AHRC to discuss your responses or to receive an AHRC health humanities research newsletter.

For more information about how UKRI processes your data and how to exercise your right under the data protection legislation please read the UKRI Privacy Notice.

The survey will close on the 25th of June 2026