LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Whether we're watching a movie to relax or listening to upbeat music to lift our spirits, art influences us in many ways. And now, an organization is trying to bridge the gap between art and us. mental and physical health.
Saturday featured the LexArts Arts and Health Symposium, an event in partnership with the Central Kentucky Arts and Health Alliance.
LexArts Vice President Nathan Zamaron said these events help explore what role art can play in healthcare.
“How effective art is in not only addressing medical needs and actually creating a healing environment, but also getting people involved, taking your mind off the stress you're experiencing, and solving things. There's a lot of research being done on whether that's the case. It's sometimes hard to put into words,” Zamarron said.
The symposium will focus on a variety of topics, including the benefits of art therapy for people with cognitive disabilities and how art can help us heal after disasters.
Saturday's event also featured resources like New Vista, which understands the role art plays in our mental health.
“We created these coloring sheets as a way to bring out all kinds of emotions, talk about it, just feel it on the page, and it's a really great way to express yourself.'' I think just getting out and participating in the arts can help your mental health and make you feel a little less alone in the world,” said Whitney Sampson, Community Outreach Specialist at New Vista.
Attendee Claudia Love Mair said she is looking forward to seeing the impact the symposium will have on the Lexington community.
“That's what we all need right now, that we're all artists, that we can all use art to express ourselves, and that through that expression art can heal us.” That means they will help us,” Mair said.
Zamaron said LexArts will develop similar events throughout 2025.
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