Arts in Health
Arts in health is a diverse, multidisciplinary field dedicated to transforming the healthcare experience by connecting people with the power of the arts at key moments in their lives. This rapidly growing field integrates the arts, including literary, performing, and visual arts and design, into a wide variety of healthcare and community settings for therapeutic, educational, and expressive purposes.
National Resources
- National Organization for Arts in Health
The Society for the Arts in Healthcare is dedicated to advancing the arts as integral to healthcare by:- Demonstrating the valuable roles the arts can play in enhancing the healing process
- Advocating for the integration of the arts into the environment and delivery of care within healthcare facilities
- Assisting in the professional development and management of arts programming for healthcare populations
- Providing resources and education to healthcare and arts professionals
- Encouraging and supporting research and investigation into the beneficial effects of the arts in healthcare
Florida Resources
- University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine
University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine is committed to advancing research, education, and practice in the arts in healthcare, locally and globally. - Shands Arts in Medicine
Shands Arts in Medicine (AIM) was founded in 1990 at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. AIM is a multidisciplinary organization, with programs in the visual, literary, musical, and performance arts. AIM serves inpatients and outpatients of all ages, their families, visitors, health care providers, the Gainesville and statewide communities. The program is focused on transforming healthcare environments through the arts, and providing leadership for hospital arts programs throughout the nation. - Weems Memorial Arts in Medicine
The Weems Memorial Arts in Medicine program was founded in 2009 through a partnership grant with the University of Florida Arts in Medicine (AIM) program at Shands Hospital and the Florida Division of Arts and Culture. Weems AIM is a multidisciplinary organization, with programs in the visual, literary, musical and performance arts. Like the Shands program, the Weems Arts in Medicine Program is focused on transforming healthcare environments through the arts, and providing leadership for arts in healthcare through-out Franklin County. - Atlantic Center for the Arts' Arts & Wellness
Atlantic Center for the Arts' Arts & Wellness initiative reaches out to all generations by connecting community health to the arts. With generous support from foundations and donors, ACA is at the forefront of producing innovative resources in the field of arts and health. Programs improve mental and physical health, offer creative solutions to overcome age and disability discrimination, prevent loneliness and isolation, and support healthy living through a dedicated team of community artists, music therapists, art therapists, and volunteers..
