Assessing the impact of artistic and cultural activities on the health and well-being of forcibly displaced people using participatory action research.

Objective: Drawing on a growing body of research suggesting that taking part in artistic and cultural activities benefits health and well-being, the objective was to develop a participatory action research (PAR) method for assessing the impact of arts interventions on forcibly displaced people, and identify themes concerning perceived benefits of such programmes.

Design: A collaborative study following PAR principles of observation, focus groups and in-depth semistructured interviews.

Setting: London-based charity working with asylum seekers and refugees.