The arts and creative fields have proven to be an excellent outlet for one’s mental well-being, offering various benefits such as stress reduction, enhanced brain function, and overall improvement in empathy. In fact, research indicates that having access to artistic mediums can reduce stress hormones by 25%, improve cognitive skills in people with dementia, ease symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, and could even extend your life expectancy. This new year, ARTS By The People is establishing a new initiative called ARTS In Health, aiming to help improve the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being of others through art and creativity. With programs like Stories in Motion, Memoir Writing, The PLATFORM, Horticultural Arts, and Collage Making, we are committed to supporting the health and aid of those in our community in 2026.
Our ARTS In Health initiative aims to bring attention to aesthetic, creative engagement, and the use of the arts for healing or social interaction in community settings, including, but not limited to:
● Veterans and their families
● Survivors of Sexual Abuse
● Grief Workshops
● Mental Health
● Older Adult Communities
● Memory Care Facilities
● Food Insecure and At Risk Communities
Our Arts In Health goals are twofold. First, to expand our programming so we can bring the healing power of the arts to more communities in New Jersey. Second, to advocate for and spread awareness of the health benefits of arts participation. We are delighted to build upon existing resources to collaborate with regional and state partners, and seek guidance from other industry leaders in the health sector to achieve our objectives.
Programs we facilitate to improve the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being of our participants.
● Stories in Motion: Dance and Poetry—combines spoken word, poetry, and dance to create a uniquely interpretive and sensorial experience mixing poetry created in our workshops with choreography. Each poem/dance provides a catalyst for discussion: language, imagery, emotional embodiment, and physical interpretation.
● Memoir Writing: Writing inspired by an object that is important and dear to our writers.
● The PLATFORM: Literary Open Mic sometimes based on themes of ARTS In Health with featured guest artists working in the field.
● Horticultural Arts: Engage participants in nature-based activities including floral arranging, horticultural crafts, and modified gardening experiences that focus on stimulating the senses, memory, motor skills, and social interaction.
● Collage: Use of Shadow boxes to hold stories using the participants’ writing with photographs, fabric, magazines and found objects.
Photos of images and participants from our workshops.