There is growing interest internationally in the contributions which the creative arts can make to wellbeing and health both in healthcare and community settings. This textbook is the first work of its kind tobring together contributions from practitioners and researchers in the creative arts in health field from around the world to provide a comprehensive account of the role the creative arts have in addressing public health needs at individual and community levels across the life-course. These developments are set firmly within a public health framework and argue that the creative arts can help in addressing some of the most pressing health challenges facing individuals and communities today. The creative arts can be seen as positive assets and resources contributing to the cultural vitality and wellbeing of any community, the building of social capital and the promotion of health. Access to opportunities for cultural engagement, creative expression and worthwhile leisure activities, are fundamental human rights to be valued in their own terms but also for the contributions they make to wellbeing and health. This book begins by providing a context in the development of public health as a discipline historically and the current concerns with health inequities and the social determinants of both illness and well-being. The historical context on the role of the arts in society and debates over the social utility of the arts are also explored. The book goes on to consider the place of the arts in different social settings and across the lifespan, and throughout concrete case studies provide insights into ways in which creative artists – in music, drama, the visual arts and dance are helping to address challenges to health and wellbeing in communities throughout the world.