LEXINGTON, Ky. – On Saturday, the Arts and Health Symposium took place, uniting the arts with mental and physical well-being in an effort to explore their impact on healthcare. This event was organized by LexArts in collaboration with the Arts and Health Alliance of Central Kentucky.
LexArts Vice President Nathan Zamarron emphasized the importance of understanding how the arts can facilitate healing. “There’s a ton of research on how effective the arts can be in addressing healthcare needs and really just creating a healing environment,” he stated. The symposium served as a platform to discuss various topics, including the advantages of art therapy for individuals with cognitive impairments and the role of art in recovery after disasters.
Resource booths showcased organizations like New Vista, which focuses on the intersection of art and mental well-being. Whitney Sampson, a community outreach specialist at New Vista, explained the significance of creative expression. “We’ve created these coloring sheets. It’s a way to just get out all kinds of emotions, talk about them, or just feel them out on the page,” she shared. This approach not only allows individuals to express their feelings but also fosters a sense of community and connection.
Attendee Claudia Love Mair expressed hope for the symposium’s effect on the local community. “That’s what we all need right now, that we’re all artists, that we can all use the arts to express ourselves and in that expression, it heals us,” she affirmed.
Zamarron further announced that LexArts plans to continue hosting similar events throughout 2025, aiming to promote the dynamic relationship between the arts and healthcare. With a growing body of research supporting these initiatives, the integration of creative practices in healthcare settings could lead to more holistic approaches to well-being.
The symposium not only highlighted the therapeutic benefits of art but also reinforced its vital role in enhancing emotional health amidst challenging times, illustrating the power of creativity in fostering healing and connection.
