Arts and Health Symposium Highlights Therapeutic Benefits of Creative Expression in Healthcare

Lexington, Ky. – An innovative approach to healthcare through the arts was showcased at the Arts and Health Symposium on Saturday. Organized by LexArts in partnership with the Arts and Health Alliance of Central Kentucky, the event aimed to highlight the vital connection between arts and wellness.

LexArts Vice President Nathan Zamarron explained that the symposium sought to inform attendees about the significant role arts can play in healthcare settings. “There’s a ton of research on how effective the arts can be in addressing healthcare needs,” Zamarron stated. He added that activities related to the arts not only foster a healing environment but also serve as an outlet for coping with stress.

The symposium covered a variety of topics, including the benefits of art therapy for individuals with cognitive impairments and the therapeutic potential of art following traumatic events. Resources were made available, such as materials from New Vista, which emphasized the importance of art in enhancing mental well-being.

Whitney Sampson, a community outreach specialist from New Vista, shared insights about the organization’s initiatives. “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 stated. Sampson noted that engaging in artistic activities can alleviate feelings of isolation and improve mental health.

Attendee Claudia Love Mair expressed her enthusiasm for the event’s impact 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,” Mair explained.

Looking ahead, Zamarron announced that LexArts plans to host similar events throughout 2025, aiming to further explore the intersection of arts and healthcare.

The Arts and Health Symposium marks a significant step in acknowledging the therapeutic potential of the arts in fostering both mental and physical well-being, revealing a promising future for collaborative efforts between the arts community and healthcare providers.