Arts in Healing
Arts in Health
The field of Arts in Health is dedicated to integrating the transformative power of the arts into healthcare and community settings to enhance health and well-being. According to the National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH), it encompasses various subfields and supports health as defined by the World Health Organization: "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" .National Organization for Arts in Health+1Peabody Institute+1Peabody Institute+3cincinnatiarts.org+3National Organization for Arts in Health+3
Arts in Health includes diverse practices such as visual arts, music, dance, theater, and literary arts, applied in hospitals, clinics, community centers, and public health initiatives. These practices aim to improve patient experiences, support caregivers, enhance healthcare environments, and promote community wellness. Professionals in this field collaborate with healthcare providers to design programs that address specific health needs, often incorporating research and assessment to evaluate impact.
By fostering creativity and human connection, Arts in Health contributes to holistic care and supports the overall well-being of individuals and communities.
About the Arts in Healing Initiative
Launched in 2015, the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Arts in Healing Initiative brings the power of the arts into medical and non-traditional settings to support wellness and enhance the healing process. Through a dynamic team of professionally trained artists and arts administrators, the program delivers meaningful and therapeutic arts experiences—ranging from music, visual arts, and movement to theater and drumming.
Our Artists in Residence engage patients, caregivers, and families with care and compassion, ensuring both safety and effectiveness in every interaction. Rooted in artistic excellence and informed by ongoing professional development, CAA’s Arts in Healing team is committed to integrating creativity into healthcare environments, promoting well-being, emotional expression, and human connection through the arts.
As an active member of the National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH), CAA aligns its practices with the 2023 NOAH Code of Ethics, which outlines core principles including respect, integrity, competence, responsibility, and advocacy. These values guide every aspect of our work, reinforcing our dedication to ethical practice and high standards in arts in health programming. Through this affiliation and our commitment to continuous learning, we uphold the national standards for safety, inclusivity, and excellence in the field of arts in healing.
TYPES OF EXPERIENCES
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Types of Arts Experiences
- Environment Artists
Visual, literary, and performing artists enhance medical spaces by creating engaging, therapeutic environments—sometimes moving bedside-to-bedside. - Teaching Artists
Provide arts instruction integrated with medical care plans, including bedside, classroom, and community settings to support healing through creative expression. - Social Engagements & Interaction
Facilitate arts participation that builds confidence and connection among patients, caregivers, and diverse communities. - Performances & Dialogues
Present arts-based programs that spark conversations about social and environmental health, promoting community well-being.
WHO WE WORK WITH and WHAT WE DO
- Cincinnati VA Medical Center (Main Campus & Georgetown Veteran’s Home)
- Environment Artists, Teaching Artists, Social Engagements & Interaction, Performances & Dialogues
- Hospice of Cincinnati (Blue Ash, East/Anderson, Christ Hospital)
- Environment Artists
- UC Health (UC Medical Center, Ridgeway Tower, Drake Center, West Chester Campus)
- Envirnment Artists, Performances & Dialogues
- Hoxworth (Music Hall Blood Drives)
- Envirnment Artists
- TriHealth Good Samaritan Hospital (TriHealth Day Treatment)
- Teaching Artists
- Goodwill Veteran’s Program
- Teaching Artists, Scial Engagements & Interaction
LINKS
The Cincinnati Arts Association and its Education and Community Programs
are supported [in part] by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS EDUCATION SPONSORS
Ameritas; ArtsWave; Charles H. Dater Foundation; The Cincinnati Herald; Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust—Fifth Third Bank, Trustee; Fifth Third Bank; Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.; The Hearst Foundation; Greater Cincinnati Foundation; The John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust (Edward V Arbaugh III); Local 12 WKRC-TV; Louise Taft Semple Foundation; The Luther Charitable Trust—Narley L. Haley & Fifth Third Bank, co-trustees; Ohio Arts Council; The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation; Paolo A Modern Jeweler; P&G Fund; Pepsi; The Stillson Foundation; Summerfair Cincinnati; TriHealth; Tri-State Chevy Dealers; The Western and Southern Financial Fund; The William O. Purdy, Jr. Foundation; WOW Windowboxes