Art Heals
Groundbreaking Healing Arts Initiative Is First In Video Series
In its first video in a series highlighting how art improves under-served lives across the state, Louisiana Division of the Arts explores the Healing Arts Initiative at St. Tammany Parish Hospital.
Danny Belanger, director of arts education and accessibility for the arts agency, was struck by the hospital’s embrace of art as a meaningful part of healing.
“There was an understanding that art could provide a respite from stress for patients and others,” said Belanger, who learned about the role of art at STPH from Mary Lee, chairman of the St. Tammany Hospital Foundation’s Healing Arts Committee and also chairman of the Louisiana State Arts Council.
“I was so impressed by the sense of purpose,” Belanger added.
The videos capture an array of vantage points on the meaning of the Healing Arts at STPH, including that of hospital CEO Joan Coffman and Chief Medical Officer Patrick Torcson MD.
Northshore artist Bill Stewart, an engineer who taught himself to paint with his left hand after losing the use of his right hand to a stroke, also shares the role of art in his own healing process.
The state agency, the hospital and the foundation will all share the video via digital, web and social media channels.
“The videos underscore the work of so many constituencies in coming together to make the Healing Arts possible,” said Nicole Suhre, the foundation’s executive director.
Shot on site in late 2018, the eight video shorts include footage of arts installations across the hospital campus, sometimes from the point of view of what a patient might see while moving through its corridors.
The STPH Healing Arts videos will be followed by others that explore novel ways art is being used to serve elderly, disabled and imprisoned Louisiana residents.
“We want to raise awareness of what is happening around the state and also show how the arts are making people’s lives better,” Belanger said.
To learn more about the Healing Arts Initiative, visit www.sthfoundation.org/healingarts
If you would like to view the videos click here.
The military makes up one of the largest portions of the under served arts communities in our state. In response to this need, we have initiated a songwriting program for veterans with the assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts. To date, there have been four workshops across Louisiana in Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Alexandria, and Shreveport.
Songs of Survivors (SOS) Veterans Workshops are designed to provide Veterans the opportunity to learn the craft of songwriting. These free workshops allow participants to tell service-related stories through lyrics and music in a safe, supportive and empowering environment. The workshops are led by the BR Music Studios Doug Gay and Sarah Burke and David St. Romain of Nashville Star.
The link below to the left will take you to the songs, written and sung by Veterans attending one of the workshops and produced by BR Music Studios and David St. Romain. The link below to the right, will take you to a segment aired on Baton Rouge television station WAFB shot by Rick Portier.
For more information contact Danny Belanger, Director of Arts Education and Accessibility at dbelanger@crt.la.gov
