The Foundation for Art & Healing

This Veterans Day, we’re highlighting the inspirational story of Marine Corps Captain Jason Berner. After fifteen physically and emotionally demanding years in the Marines, Captain Berner thought art would never be relevant to his life. But art therapy inspired him more than he could have imagined. Through creative activities like painting masks and designing crests, he found safe ways to process traumatic memories from the past and express his emotions in the present. Hear Captain Berner’s powerful reflections on art and healing in this 2-minute video: https://lnkd.in/efAd_sup To dive deeper into the veteran experience through film, visit our Project UnLonely Films library and sort by the “Veterans” tag. You’ll find an assortment of thought-provoking short films that offer diverse perspectives on loneliness, military service, and pathways to deeper connection: https://lnkd.in/e8BBvU4e #VeteransDay #unlonely

One of the best antidotes to feelings of loneliness, grief, and despair is taking action. Even simple activities like cooking, gardening, and sewing can help restore us by reducing stress and improving our mood. Getting started with a new hobby or routine isn’t easy, but a little inspiration can go a long way. As you transition into the weekend, we encourage you to check out a recent article from the New York Times titled “7 Podcasts to Inspire a New Hobby.” Hobbies aren’t a cure-all for the challenges we face today, but they can bring us a step closer to a sense of wellbeing. And they can foster the social connections that we need to thrive. Learn more and get inspired to find an activity that’s right for you: https://lnkd.in/ePHKWUwG

Navigating major life changes can be a lonely experience for us all. The parts of the brain involved in language production may shut down, making it hard to process and communicate how we feel. In moments like this, creative activities—from drawing and painting to baking and gardening—can be helpful tools for self-reflection and stress reduction. Since the early 2000s, our organization has been harnessing the healing power of creative expression to help people manage life experiences like aging, illness, and trauma. You can bring creative healing into your own life! Check out the five ideas below, or visit our website for more resources and activities designed to boost wellbeing: https://lnkd.in/eri8rCpg What creative activities help you through times of change or stress? Let us know in the comments. ??

Voting is more than just an act of civic engagement. It’s an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Like a piece of art, a vote is a form of self-expression that can help us overcome isolation and strengthen feelings of meaning, purpose, and belonging. If you haven’t already, take the unlonely step of casting your ballot today. Head to the polls, feel connected to your community, and let your voice be heard! #unlonely #vote

Our founder and president Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPH was honored to speak at the virtual Future of Museums Summit hosted by the American Alliance of Museums. In his talk, “Museums and Loneliness,” Dr. Nobel shared helpful insights on loneliness and the ways art can foster healthy communities. In case you missed it, here are some key takeaways from his talk: ??Loneliness isn’t a personal shortcoming. It’s a helpful signal to connect with others. ??Humans need art. It rewires our brains and inspires us to be part of a larger story. ??Museums have a pivotal role to play as catalysts for connection, not just collection. At the Foundation for Art & Healing, we partner with community-based organizations to design scalable programs that improve personal and public health through art. Whether you work in the museum sector or are interested in arts and health more broadly, we invite you to explore our website for inspiration. For example, here are two ways you can get started: ?? Campus Colors & Connection workshops Great for art museums on college and university campuses, this 60-minute workshop uses creative expression to engage, inspire, and connect students of all backgrounds and abilities. A free training is coming up soon. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eVY4pvAn ??? Project UnLonely Films We have 125+ short films that explore the topic of loneliness and social connection from diverse perspectives. Organizations like museums can use these films to host thought-provoking screenings and discussion sessions that destigmatize loneliness and spark meaningful conversations. Watch films now: https://lnkd.in/e8BBvU4e Questions about these programs? Send us a DM! We look forward to hearing from you.

??? Today is Film Friday! It’s also the first day of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers Month. In honor of these important campaigns, we invite you to stream “Where Do Lilacs Come From” from our library of Project UnLonely Films. In this short film, a lost Alzheimer’s patient pieces together his story, from his first rumblings of love to his retired life with his wife. Along the way, his adult son helps him navigate his illness via family photos and home videos. Filmmaker Matthew Thorne shared, “I wrote this story in many ways as a response to my memories of losing my Grandmother to Alzheimer’s. Watching my Father endlessly reintroduce his mother to me and my sister was harrowing, even to my younger self. Dad would say our visits with Grandma were us ‘saying goodbye in slow-motion’ and ‘to be happy she was still here’. But it all just really stuck with me.” Watch “Where Do Lilacs Come From” today: https://lnkd.in/ecpZQQUa We have over 125 more short films on loneliness and connection on our website. Find one you love and share it! https://lnkd.in/e8BBvU4e Disclaimer: This film may not be suitable for younger audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.

We’re honored that our founder and president, Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPH, was featured in the inaugural episode of Frontiers in Health & Happiness, a new public health podcast hosted by Ayla Fudala from the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness. In the episode, Dr. Nobel shares helpful insights on the loneliness epidemic, including: ??How loneliness can impact mental and physical health ??How art-making can help break loneliness spirals ??How to reduce shame around loneliness Stream the episode now on the Frontiers in Health & Happiness website or wherever you listen to podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e2iSxbXd To learn more about simple arts activities that can reduce the negative impacts of loneliness, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eri8rCpg

Attend a powerful arts and health event this Friday, November 1st at Harvard University. Hosted by Countway Library of Medicine, “The Art of Grieving" is the final show in a nationwide exhibition memorializing pandemic grief and loss through art. Our founder and president Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPH will deliver the event’s closing remarks, illuminating the ways creative expression can help people navigate personal and public health challenges like illness, grief, and chronic loneliness. “The Art of Grieving” is free and open to the public! Register now or share with a friend in the Boston area: https://lnkd.in/eqqebbka

?? Thanks to everyone who joined our Colors & Connection facilitator training last week! It was a joy to connect in community with fellow arts and health enthusiasts from organizations like William & Mary, Des Moines Area Community College, University of Arizona, and the Center on Aging at the University of Vermont. During the training, we covered how to run a 60-minute art-making and mindfulness workshop to help college and university students feel more connected. Shoutout to our teammates Jessica Liu, PhD, MPH and Jen Martin for leading an engaging session and to all our participants for staying curious, being creative, and having thoughtful conversations! For more information about the Colors & Connection program and to sign up for future training sessions, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eVY4pvAn

Attend a powerful arts and health event this Friday, November 1st at Harvard University. Hosted by Countway Library of Medicine, “The Art of Grieving" is the final show in a nationwide exhibition memorializing pandemic grief and loss through art. Our founder and president Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPH will deliver the event’s closing remarks, illuminating the ways creative expression can help people navigate personal and public health challenges like illness, grief, and chronic loneliness. “The Art of Grieving” is free and open to the public! Register now or share with a friend in the Boston area: https://lnkd.in/eqqebbka