About Arts In Health

The National Network for Arts in Health Canada is a non-profit online organization that aims to bring together artists, clinicians, researchers and others who are either working in the arts in health field or have an interest in it. It is about building a strong, open and sharing community across the country. This website has been established in response to the need in Canada to have a central website through which we might share information and best practice.

There has been much work done throughout this vast country by groups and individuals but there has not been one National Network. Several groups such as Manitoba Artists in Heathcare as well as work spearheaded by Nancy Cooley (www.artshealthnetworkcanada.com) in her report for Heritage Canada, reflect the scope of the work that has been done in Canada (www.bcartscouncil.ca/healthcanadaforum/program). There are new programs such as one in British Columbia hospitals begun by David Lemon (http://www.healtharts.org/) and the Art for Healing Foundation in Montreal (www.artforhealingfoundation.org) to name just a few.

This site was founded and developed by Sarah Dobbs, in Toronto, Ontario. Although this list is not exhaustive, it is a sampling of what is emerging in Canada. This website is about building a strong Arts in Health community. Please add your links, news, projects and research so we can expand our knowledge and share information!