by Fancourt D, Finn S., Health Evidence Network synthesis report, No. 67.
Introduction
While the arts have always been conceptually difficult to define, there are a number of cross-cultural characteristics recognized as fundamental to art. These include the art object (whether physical or experiential) being valued in its own right rather than merely as a utility; providing imaginative experiences for both the producer and audience; and comprising or provoking an emotional response. In addition, the production of art is characterized by requiring novelty, creativity or originality; requiring specialized skills; and relating to the rules of form, composition or expression (either conforming or diverging).
These criteria provide the boundaries for deciding what constitutes art, but the specific types of art within these boundaries are diverse and fluid. In relation to health research, engagement with the arts has been proposed as consisting of five broad categories