Art Cure – with Professor Daisy Fancourt and Thangam Debbonaire
Professor Daisy Fancourt, award-winning scientist and world-leading expert and author of 'Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health', will discuss the life-enhancing power of the arts with Thangam Debbonaire.
In 'Art Cure', Daisy Fancourt reveals the profound power of the arts, including how songs support the architectural development of children’s brains, dance builds new neural pathways for people with brain injuries, going to the theatre decreases our risk of future loneliness and frailty, and engaging with the arts improves the functioning of every major organ system in the body.
The author draws on ground-breaking research in neuroscience, psychology, immunology, physiology, behavioural science and epidemiology, as well as inspiring true stories of people who have experienced radical changes in their health, to empower readers to improve their own health through the arts. Informed by the results of decades of scientific studies, 'Art Cure' is an inspiring guide to improving your health, giving you the tools to write your own ‘arts prescription’.
'Art Cure' is a Sunday Times bestseller and has been short-listed for the 2026 Women’s Prize for non-fiction.
Professor Fancourt will be in conversation with Thangam Debbonaire. In her political career, as an MP for nine years, Thangam was Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in the year up to the General Election. She is CEO of UK Opera Association, board member of Sadler’s Wells and the Parthenon Project and chair of the 2026 Women’s Prize for non-fiction. She has a professional background in the performing arts as a cellist and her other current work includes object restitution and the political economy of arts, culture and heritage and speaking at various cultural events on these and other related topics. She is a Labour member of the House of Lords.
For more information about the six titles shortlisted for this year's Women's Prize for Non-Fiction, visit www.womensprize.com
In 'Art Cure', Daisy Fancourt reveals the profound power of the arts, including how songs support the architectural development of children’s brains, dance builds new neural pathways for people with brain injuries, going to the theatre decreases our risk of future loneliness and frailty, and engaging with the arts improves the functioning of every major organ system in the body.
The author draws on ground-breaking research in neuroscience, psychology, immunology, physiology, behavioural science and epidemiology, as well as inspiring true stories of people who have experienced radical changes in their health, to empower readers to improve their own health through the arts. Informed by the results of decades of scientific studies, 'Art Cure' is an inspiring guide to improving your health, giving you the tools to write your own ‘arts prescription’.
'Art Cure' is a Sunday Times bestseller and has been short-listed for the 2026 Women’s Prize for non-fiction.
Professor Fancourt will be in conversation with Thangam Debbonaire. In her political career, as an MP for nine years, Thangam was Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in the year up to the General Election. She is CEO of UK Opera Association, board member of Sadler’s Wells and the Parthenon Project and chair of the 2026 Women’s Prize for non-fiction. She has a professional background in the performing arts as a cellist and her other current work includes object restitution and the political economy of arts, culture and heritage and speaking at various cultural events on these and other related topics. She is a Labour member of the House of Lords.
For more information about the six titles shortlisted for this year's Women's Prize for Non-Fiction, visit www.womensprize.com
