A+ Art Blog: Arts Prescriptions

The four-part series of Arts and Health Webinar is presented by California for the Arts. The first one I am reporting on is Health Benefits of Arts Engagement and the Importance of Involving Community Organizations in Research.

Please note: It was important for me to understand the difference between Arts Prescribing and Social Prescribing. Jill Sonke answered my question as she explained in her text to me that there are five areas of social prescribing: Arts & Culture, Heritage, Nature, and Physical Activity. Much of the webinar includes all these areas, but I tried to concentrate on Arts and Culture, naturally.

The poet Ivory Rose set the stage for this discussion on Social Prescribing with a specially commission work. Bringing a little art into this talking head event was appreciated.

Alan Seigal runs the website Social Prescribing USA which has a mission to make social prescribing available to every American by 2035. He divided the needs into crisis areas, Mental Health, Aging, Health Care, and Civic Capitol.

Art Prescribing can improve all these areas by reducing anxiety, depression, PTSD, blood pressure, diabetes. By bolstering immune system, improving brain cognition, managing pain, improving fine motor skills and coordination, developing empathy, boasting confidence and identity, improving memory, increasing civic engagement and social tolerance, lessen loneliness while increasing inclusion.

There are no side-affects with an art prescription. It is cheaper than meds and has the extra benefit of dealing with many inequality issues.

The plan is you still to go to your GP who refers you to a social prescribing service and they then assess and direct you to the best possible prescribing services by asking questions like: What matters to you? What brings you joy and meaning?

Seigal pointed out that in the beginning using the existing health system is prudent as that is where the money is now. But in the future, any trained person might advise am art prescription.

Jill Sonke area is research. You need evidence-based policies if you are going to drive investment. She thinks we are on the cusp of that happening in the next five years. Thirty countries already use social prescription, lead mainly by the British. But there are 40 pilot projects in the USA and out of 23 studies, 17 are for art prescribing. The next steps are public awareness. Art Prescription Field Guild can help with that.

Although we don’t know what form this will take in the USA, system outcomes show that we gain in health equity, return on investment, health system cost savings to name just some of the areas being explored. The studies already show that older adults have 20% less chance of being depressed if they engage in one art activity a month. This art for health push will impact all the arts ultimately to increase participation.

Christina Eskridge gave the last presentation. She started the Elevate Theater Company to combine her interest in the art with training in health. They aim to create space for audiences and artists to explore health and well-being through the art of storytelling. She is also on the board of Arts for EveryBody a national data gathering project. Take the survey to help them fulfill their mission.

During the presentation there were a number of organizations mentioned that have been working in this field. NOAP National Organization in Arts in Health is the grandfather of these but all the links above plus the recent CA Art and Health Summit 2024 will be a real education for those wanting to know more.

P.S Don’t forget our own SD based Prebys Foundation Local Healing through the Arts and Nature Initiatives giving grants in this field.

Part 2: Strategies for Innovative Funding & Partnerships in Arts & Health Initiatives was August 21 and billed as a chance to learn about diverse strategies to secure creative funding and form impactful partnerships that are driving meaningful change.⁠

I was only able to hear Elizabeth Markle, PhD, Co-Founder/Executive Director from OpenSource Wellness. Her group set up a program with only experiential workshops. Each one is geared to the people present as there is no set program, But the concept is that the way forward is 1. Movement i.e. exercise, 2. Nourish i.e. diet, 3. Connect i.e. community, 4. Be i.e Stress reduction. The arts can fit into all these categories. They already have proof of concept which has helps with funding. Their clients has experienced a drop in emergency visit, lower blood pressure, and a better rate of consuming fruits and vegetables. They have been so successful that they had to decide whether to spread the program nationwide, or become trainers to the trainers. Knowing how important local contacts are in the process the chose the education route of Health and Wellness trainers. They have been using the YMCA for this project development. I loved her description of how to raise money to support all these efforts: Braided funding i.e. interwoven at all levels.

In the third seminar on September 4th: Exploring Workforce Development for Arts & Health Initiatives we learned more about efforts in Scotland and Chicago but the info presented by Ping Ho for the Arts and Healing Initiative was the most stimulating and most local as it is out of LA. There program SEA (Social and Emotional Arts) was clear and repeatable with lots of information on their website. There are one day workshops and certificate programs. They not only train the trainers but have expanded to train some of the youth to become leaders. None of the pilot and developed programs have yet cracked the insurance payment hurdle, but the data now being gathered some certainly help to push that forward.

In the fourth and last seminar on Advocacy and Public Policy for Arts and Health Initiatives

Julie Baker from California for the Arts gave the steps to take for an advocacy for Art Prescriptions using the messaging Artist are the Second Responder. Legislature created to make April Arts and Culture month using that message to re-enforce that artists are essential. CAC has made health one of the 7 priorities of the organization. In 2024, introducing AB2250 to get insurance to pay for screening of art as a social determinant of health.

Steps for advocacy:
Plan your campaign
Create Awareness
Generate Engagement
Encourage Action
Sustain Momentum