Why Arts and Health?

Actor, poet and playwright Eleanor Crowder with musician and songwriter and long-term care resident Barby Clement

“Art speaks to our need to reveal, heal, and transform. It transcends our ordinary lives and lets us imagine what is possible.”

Richard Kamler

Are you a good fit?

You are:

  • Curious

  • Accepting

  • Innovative

  • Enthusiastic about transforming healthcare through access to the arts

  • Interested in a diversity of cultures and abilities

Christine Reynolds and her sister Patricia, Radical Connections musician at Saint Vincent Hospital

And ideally, experienced with:

  • Elders

  • Community Building

  • Teaching

Learn about matching your specific skill-sets, and interest in humanity, under the Healthcare menu.

You don’t need to be an art therapist, although we welcome art therapist applicants.

Through meeting this (long-term care) resident, facilitated by the Radical Connections project, I had the great honour of being able to connect with a fellow writer and activist. Throughout the session, we realized we had in common our enjoyment for writing and navigating our lives, for both ourselves and to share with the world, through writing.

Namitha Rathinappallai, Spoken Word Poet and Radical Connections Artist

You will be building community while working with:

  • Elders

  • People with dementia

  • Diverse populations

  • People with different abilities

  • People with mental health issues

The community in healthcare includes:

  • Long-term residents

  • Hospital patients

  • Family members and other visitors

  • Staff, volunteers

  • Seniors aging in place

  • Homecare workers and seniors “aging in place” (in their homes).

  • AND arts workers

From the Safe Space project by Jenny McMaster and Christine Mockette for the Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa

Radical Connections offers general orientation for artists working in healthcare. You may also  need to attend specific site orientation hosted by healthcare organizations.

Be ready to bring:

  • Your artistic and technical competencies

  • Compassion and flexibility

  • A respect for safe practices

  • And of course, your beautiful inner spirit!