More than 100 passionate arts and health advocates attended the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis’ inaugural Arts + Health Symposium this past October. The symposium featured a variety of speakers focused on the relationship between the arts and health.
A variety of speakers shared their knowledge, including medical and neural researchers who explore the effects of creativity on the body and mind to local arts agency leaders who are actively using this information to grow across sectors.
The symposium ignited exciting and necessary conversations for our city. From the presentations to the one-on-one conversations, the room was full of positive energy and incredible minds.
In a post-symposium survey, 98 percent of attendees said they would recommend this event to others.
“I hope you keep doing events like this –– on this topic or others. There is a lot of information out there, and there are many areas where the arts cross with other (better funded) topics, which helps us all,” said an Arts & Health Symposium attendee.
Collectively, we explored the transformative power of creativity and renewed our commitment to highlighting the importance of linking the arts to health outcomes.
Sheila Suderwalla focused on race-related trauma during her presentation, “Healing Through Creative Self-Expression: Addressing Race-Based Traumatic Stress.”
“I am grateful to the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis for championing healing arts, specifically how we can heal individually and collectively through creative self-expression,” said Sheila Suderwalla, Artist First Executive Director.
Head here to find recorded plenary presentations and view each speaker’s slides from the symposium.
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