The Arts in Health: Implications for Artistic and Health Practice, Policy Development, Education and Training

Abstract

Although there have been art programs in some Australian health care settings for a number of years they are neither an integral part of health policy or practice, nor of arts policy and practice. A fuller appreciation of what it means to be a person might illustrate why art practices in health settings provide so many, often uncomfortable, challenges to long held assumptions that patients should be passive and accepting, whereas art practices expect them to be active, moral, self defining agents. What is required is collaboration and co-operation at federal, state and local levels between departments and organisations in the arts, health and education, so that the arts might regain their vital role in the care of the sick and in the health of our communities.