Arts, cultural and creative engagement during COVID-19: Enhancing the mental wellbeing and social connectedness of university staff and students

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that poor mental health and loneliness increased in the UK population during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, media reports suggested increased public engagement with arts and culture during the lockdown period. Aim: To explore the levels of and impact of arts engagement amongst staff and students from one UK university during the first pandemic lockdown. Methods: 112 staff/students completed an online survey which asked about their arts engagement and invited them to write a haiku about their lockdown experiences. Findings: Participants engaged in a wide range of arts, cultural and creative activities; some engaged more frequently and/or in new activities. Participants reported having more time and opportunity to undertake such activities, which improved their mental wellbeing and facilitated social connections. Forty-seven participants wrote a haiku, and it was evident that the haikus provided a different perspective on lockdown experiences, enabling the expression of emotions including fear, loneliness, and a lack of freedom, as well as hope and optimism. Originality: Increased creative engagement supported staff and students through the first UK lockdown and haiku poetry was a powerful method for capturing the nuances of their experiences beyond traditional survey responses.