Creativity & Mental Illness

Arlene Goldbard and François Matarasso talk David Cutler about how and why the Foundation chose to focus on Arts & Mental Health; the impact they’re having; and how their work fits into the larger arts funding landscape.


Episode 51     April 18, 2025
Contributors    David Cutler     |   Arlene Goldbard     |   François Matarasso    

On episode 51 of “A Culture of Possibility,” Arlene Goldbard and François Matarasso talk with David Cutler, Director of The Baring Foundation, based in London.

One of Baring’s strategic grant areas is Arts & Mental Health, granting about £1 million per year over at least five years to organizations specializing in arts and creativity with people with mental health problems; supporting participatory artists from Global Majority communities in this work; and supporting more men to engage in creative mental health. They’ve published considerable material documenting this work.

We’ll talk with David about how and why the Foundation chose this focus, the impact they’re having, and how their work fits into the larger arts funding landscape.