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Arts & Health

Health and Well-Being

 

The arts’ impacts on health and well-being can be seen at all stages of life. From early childhood through adolescence and youth, arts education can support the social and emotional needs of students, helping them better cope with their feelings, bounce back from adversity, and show tolerance and compassion for others. For older adults, greater frequency of arts participation has been linked to positive health outcomes.

 

Creative arts therapies and arts-in-health programs can help address specific physical and mental health conditions and can improve the quality of life for patients and their caregivers. In cities, towns, and neighborhoods, meanwhile, arts-based strategies can contribute to greater social cohesion, health equity, and community well-being. – National Endowment for the Arts

Arts and Health Alliance of Central Kentucky (AHACK)

 

Mission: To promote and integrate the arts into healthcare settings to enhance the well-being of patients, caregivers, and communities.

 

Vision: To advocate for the use of arts in healing, providing resources and education on the benefits of arts in health, and fostering collaborations between artists, healthcare providers, and community organizations. The Alliance strives to create a more holistic approach to healthcare that recognizes the importance of creativity and expression in promoting health and healing.

 

LexArts has created a local arts in health council comprised of representatives from different health institutions and artists interested in working in the healthcare environment. The arts in health council meets monthly to share arts programming ideas and plan arts engagements with staff and patients of healthcare partners. This program is made possible by a grant from CHI Saint Joseph Health.  

 

If you are interested in being involved with this council, please fill out this form: https://form.jotform.com/lexarts/artsinhealthcouncil

PhotoVoice

 

LexArts wants you to participate in our community-wide PhotoVoice project! This project, in partnership with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, focuses on how aspects of the Lexington community affect our mental health. 

 

We ask that you submit photos showcasing what you consider to be strengths and concerns of our Lexington community. Along with each photo, please include a description about what that strength or concern is and how it could impact mental health, either positively or negatively.  

 

In November, photographs created by PhotoVoice participants may be included in an exhibition at ArtsPlace to share the work with the public. 

 

To submit your photos, view examples of PhotoVoice submissions and find out more information, please visit this link: https://form.jotform.com/lexarts/photovoice

 

More About PhotoVoice

 

The PhotoVoice method is inspired by the idea that “a photograph is worth a thousand words” and that photography can be used to create positive social change. 

 

PhotoVoice projects utilize a process where participants create photographs to showcase aspects of their community, environment, and daily experiences to share with others.  

 

The main goals of PhotoVoice projects are to help participants understand the forces and circumstances that impact their lives as well as bring about change by sharing experiences with the public and influencing policy makers. 

 

 

  • In addition to our community-wide program, we are looking for groups to participate in discussion-based PhotoVoice sessions.  
  • Participants in these sessions would meet weekly for 3-4 sessions and would be asked to strengths and concerns of our Lexington community and then discuss how those could impact mental health throughout each session.  
  • LexArts can provide cameras for groups to use and participants do not need any photography experience.
  • In November, photographs created by PhotoVoice participants may be included in an exhibition at LexArts to share the work with the public. 

 

For questions or to discuss having your group involved in PhotoVoice, please reach out to our PhotoVoice Coordinator, Arden Barnes, at abarnes@lexarts.org.  

 

Call for Art: Arts and Health Exhibition 

Submission Deadline: October 27, 2024 

 

LexArts in collaboration with the UK Arts in Healthcare Program is thrilled to announce a call for art for our upcoming exhibition centered on the theme of health and wellbeing. We invite artists to submit works that were created with the theme of “health” in mind or are outcomes of an arts and health activity. The University of Kentucky Arts in Healthcare Program team will guest-curate selections of work.

Submission Guidelines:
  • Theme: All submitted artworks must relate to health and wellbeing. This can encompass physical, mental, emotional, or social health. 
  • Mediums Accepted: We welcome a variety of mediums, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and digital art. 
  • Artist Statement: Each submission must include an artist statement (up to 300 words) detailing how the piece is related to health and wellbeing. This statement should provide insight into the inspiration behind the work and its connection to the theme.
  • Submission Format: Digital images of the artwork should be submitted in high resolution (300 dpi) along with the artist statement. Please include the title, medium, dimensions, and year of creation for each piece. 
  • Number of Submissions: Each artist may submit up to three artworks. A series of work may be submitted and will count as a single submission.
  • Sale of Artworks: Artists have the ability to sell artworks selected for the exhibition, though this is not required. Artists receive 70% of artwork sales and LexArts retains the other 30% as commission.
Eligibility

Any artist can apply. Must be 18 years or older.  We are committed to a policy of providing opportunities to people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate based on race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or physical disability. 

Important Dates
  • Submission Deadline: October 27, 2024
  • Notification of Selection: November 1, 2024
  • Artwork delivered to ArtsPlace: November 6-7, 2024
  • Reception: Thursday, November 14, 2024
  • Gallery Hop: Friday, November 15, 2024
  • Arts and Health Symposium: Saturday, November 16, 2024
  • Artwork Pickup: January 6-7, 2025