International Arts and Health Conference exploring best practice policy, programs and research across primary care, community health, healthcare promotion and medical humanities.
Port Macquarie NSW Australia 10 - 13 November 2009
Pre-conference training and workshops 7 - 10 November 2009
Health and wellbeing are improved through active participation with Art, Music, Dance, Writing and Drama. This applies to both individuals and within a community.
Contemporary healthcare and health education promotes healthy lifestyles and a positive approach to ageing as life expectancy increases, as well as the prevalence of long-term health conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The baby boomer generation values quality of life. The young elderly (aged from 65 to 75 years) expect access to well documented information and resources to enable healthy living. Engagement with the arts is an effective way to maintain health and wellbeing.
ARTS AND HEALTH AUSTRALIA, the national arts in healthcare advocacy and networking organisation, is convening the international arts and health conference - THE ART OF GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING - at the Glasshouse Arts Conference and Entertainment Centre in Port Macquarie in November 2009.
Healthy ageing (from a lifelong perspective) and mental health will be a key focus of the conference. Special interest areas include creative ageing, arts and health programs in hospitals (for adults and for children) and aged care facilities, regional arts and health, indigenous health, healthcare promotion, research and evaluation, and international exchange.
The conference program will include selected theatre, dance and musical performances and exhibits relating to arts and health.
Highlights include:
Pre-conference Training: 7 November - 9 November
Arts in healthcare training program for musicians (limited to 15) and visual artists (limited to 15) presented by Dr Cheryl Dileo, PhD, MT-BC, Professor of Music Therapy and Director: Arts and Quality of Life Research Center, Temple University, Philadelphia and conference keynote speaker. Dr Dileo will be joined by Dr Joke Bradt, Assistant Director, Arts and Quality of Life Research Center, in the training program.
Pre-conference Workshops: 10 November 2009
- Creative Ageing workshop - led by Susan Perlstein, Center for Creative Aging, Washington DC
- Toolkit: Arts in Healthcare Program Essentials - led by Naj Wikoff, President Emeritus, Society for Arts in Healthcare, Washington DC.
- Are We There Yet? - Finding the means for meaningful international exchange of practice and research in community-based arts in health - convened by Mike White, Centre for Medical Humanities, Durham University, UK; Alison Clough, Creative Director, Pioneer Projects and Looking Well, UK; David Doyle, Executive Director, DADAA WA.
International Panel Discussion on the Future of the Arts in Healthcare:
11 November 2009 The Arts in Healthcare: The Next Decade - the Challenges and Opportunities
For more information about the conference and to subscribe to the ARTS AND HEALTH AUSTRALIA e-news service, please contact:
