Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

Café Scientifique "HEALTHART" will promote, in the traditionally underserved geography of north-central British Columbia, greater understandings about both health research and relationships between art, creativity, health, and well-being. Specifically, "HEALTHART" will convene health researchers, health practitioners, practicing artists, and representatives from the Northern Health Authority in order that they translate, disseminate, and discuss a growing body of research about art and health for people and communities who might otherwise feel alienated from the arts and/or confused about "high-level" health research. This work is supported by the University of Northern British Columbia's (UNBC) Northern Medical Program and the Northern Health Authority, and will be hosted by a northern art gallery (Two Rivers Gallery) with a proven track record of multi-sectoral community outreach. The event will unfold as a fun and accessible evening that will include making art. "HEALTHART" will be a new kind of "informational-space" wherein knowledge will be shared, created, and contemplated. Wide ranges of people living in northern B.C. will be invited and encouraged to actively and dynamically engage and consider: 1) questions about the current state of health research in Canada, 2) discussions about how to become more involved with community health projects, particularly projects involving the arts and humanities and, 3) understandings about the relationships between the arts and individual and population health.