Arts in Health
Arts in health—sometimes called arts in medicine or arts in healthcare—is a diverse, multidisciplinary field dedicated to enhancing health and the healthcare experience through creative expression. It integrates literary, performing, and visual arts, design, and other forms of creativity into healthcare and community settings to improve health and well-being.
Research shows the arts help treat Alzheimer’s, substance use disorders, chronic pain, and depression, while reducing isolation and loneliness. For example, a recent eClinicalMedicine study found that social isolation and loneliness significantly increase risks for type 2 diabetes, dementia, heart disease, stroke, and premature death—risks comparable to smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have similarly highlighted the profound health risks of social isolation, an issue particularly relevant in Maine, which has the nation’s oldest population and significant rural access challenges.
“The arts play a vital role in addressing challenges by fostering community connection, promoting healthy lifestyle habits, reducing stress, and building resilience,” said Maine Arts Commission Executive Director Amy Hausmann. “Creativity is essential to health—it serves as a bridge connecting generations, communities, and regions. By partnering with community wellness organizations, libraries, YMCAs, recreation programs, retirement communities, funders, schools, and state agencies, we can weave creative activities into daily life, strengthening well-being across the state.”
Maine Arts Commission - Arts in Health Programs
- Arts in Health Roundtables
In collaboration with the Cultural Alliance of Maine, United Way of Southern Maine, Side x Side, MaineHealth, and community organizer Jessie Laurita-Spanglet, these sessions bring together Maine artists, arts organizations, and community partners who are engaged—or interested in becoming engaged—in the growing field of arts in health. Designed as regenerative spaces, the roundtables will provide opportunities to network, share resources, and foster partnerships, with the goal of identifying what is needed most to strengthen arts in health initiatives statewide. - Arts & Health Convening
In collaboration with the Cultural Alliance of Maine, Greater Portland Health, the Maine Health Access Foundation, MaineHealth, Side x Side, United Way of Southern Maine, and community organizer Jessie Laurita-Spanglet, the Arts & Health Convening brought together artists, health professionals, researchers, community leaders, and partner organizations to explore the intersection of creativity, wellbeing, public health, and community care. The convening offered space for shared learning, discussion, and connection, with presentations focused on arts-based research, evaluation, policy, social connection, and opportunities to strengthen arts in health work across Maine. - Creative Aging Maine
In 2024, the Maine Arts Commission began a partnership with the Maine Council on Aging (MCOA) to develop a statewide, sustainable Creative Aging program. The two agencies assembled a Creative Aging Advisory Council to recommend best practices, and then determined roles and responsibilities of the local and statewide partners - Veterans
The Maine Arts Commission’s Veteran Artist Resources page connects Maine veterans with opportunities in the arts. It provides information, guidance, and links to programs that support creative growth, professional development, and community engagement.
Arts in Health Resources
- Art Pharmacy
Art Pharmacy enables personalized social prescribing services with healthcare, university, corporate, and government partners to address the nation’s most intractable health challenges. - Center for Arts in Medicine, University of Florida
The University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine advances education, research, policy, and practice at the intersections of the arts and health, offering academic programs, research initiatives, and professional development opportunities. - Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network
Veterans Arts & Clinical Program Funding - National Organization for Arts in Health
NOAH builds community to amplify, educate about, and advocate for the power of the arts to improve health and wellbeing for all people - National Assembly of State Arts Agencies NASAA
Arts and Health Strategy Samplers - National Institutes of Health - Effects of Craft-based Interventions on Mental Health and Wellbeing Series
This systematic review examines the evidence on craft-based interventions and their potential benefits for mental health and wellbeing, including short-term improvements in areas such as mood, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and social connection. - NeuroArts Resource Center
The Neuroarts Resource Center is a growing platform for research, events, funding opportunities, professional development, and community connection at the intersection of the arts, science, health, and wellbeing. - NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative
The NeuroArts Blueprint: Advancing the Science of Arts, Health, and Wellbeing initiative is breaking new ground at the crossroads of science, the arts, and technology. - NYC Health + Hospitals: Arts in Medicine
NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine program integrates visual art, music, performance, storytelling, and other creative practices into healthcare settings to support healing, reflection, resilience, and connection for patients, families, and staff. - Performance Hypothesis (Marcel Foster)
Performance Hypothesis provides research-informed evaluation, strategy, and consulting support to help arts and cultural programs understand and measure their impact on health and wellbeing. - Social Prescribing USA
Social prescribing is a model of care delivery that enables health professionals to formally prescribe non-clinical community activities— including the arts, movement, nature, and service (volunteering)— to improve patient health, and at minimal patient cost. - The Foundation for Arts & Healing - Project UnLonely
We champion and engage creative arts expression as a path towards improved health and wellbeing for individuals and communities. We do this by creating awareness of how the arts can address health issues, designing and offering creative expression based solutions, and partnering with organizations to fund, develop, and distribute programs that deliver measurable results.
Recommended reading
- Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives
by Dr. Daisy Fancourt, February 2026, Celadon BooksDr. Daisy Fancourt’s Art Cure examines the science behind how arts and cultural participation can support health, wellbeing, healing, and social connection. - Arts on Prescription: A Field Guide for US Communities
by Tasha Golden, 2023, University of Florida Center for Arts in MedicineTasha Golden’s Arts on Prescription offers practical guidance for communities interested in developing arts-based social prescribing programs in the United States. - Craft Psychology: How Crafting Promotes Health
by Anne Kirketerp, translated from Danish to English by Mailand Press, 2024Anne Kirketerp’s Craft Psychology examines how crafting can support mental health, resilience, focus, and wellbeing through hands-on creative practice. - Making Change: Teaching Artists and Their Role in Shaping a Better World
by Eric Booth, 2023, Betteryet PressEric Booth’s Making Change explores the essential role teaching artists play in education, community building, creativity, and social change. - Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness
edited by Renée Fleming, 2024, Random HouseMusic and Mind brings together scientists, artists, and healthcare professionals to explore how music and the arts can support health, wellness, and human connection. - Project UnLonely: Healing Our Crisis of Disconnection
by Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPH, 2023, AveryDr. Jeremy Nobel’s Project UnLonely explores how creativity, storytelling, and shared expression can help address loneliness and strengthen social connection. - The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service and Belonging
by Julia Hotz, 2024, Simon & SchusterJulia Hotz’s The Connection Cure explores how social prescribing can use movement, nature, art, service, and belonging to support health and wellbeing. - The Role of the Arts in Healthcare: Transforming Lives, Creating Community
published by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, 2024The Role of the Arts in Healthcare highlights programs, partnerships, and case studies that demonstrate how the arts can transform healthcare environments and build community.
View the complete book online - Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us
by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen, 2023, Random HouseYour Brain on Art explores the emerging field of neuroaesthetics and how creative experiences can affect the brain, body, and overall wellbeing.
If you have additions to this page or questions about any of our Arts in Health programs at the Maine Arts Commission please contact our Program Director, Khristina Kurasz via email at .vog.eniam@zsaruk.anitsirhk