There’s growing evidence to support that opinion. Earlier this summer, a team of Cambridge psychologists conducted a similar project at Kettle’s Yard Gallery to show how appreciating artistic beauty helps us escape the “mental trappings of daily life”. These experiments follow research published last year by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to quantify the improvements to physical and mental health from taking part in creative activities, as well as the economic gain – estimated to be an average of £1,000 per person a year, as a result of improved work productivity and fewer trips to the GP. Nature Magazine’s review of the current science suggests that art can play a role in public health, especially in the prevention of chronic diseases. And for the first time in its 202-year history, The Lancet recently ran a photo essay showcasing how art can enhance lives.