Celebrating the Arts in Health Care

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 15, 2010) − All November, UK HealthCare celebrates Arts + Health Month. Founded by the Society for the Arts in Healthcare, Arts + Health Month is an opportunity for organizations and individuals worldwide to promote the integration of the arts into health care environments.

"As an institution of healing and learning, we celebrate the relationship between the arts and healing," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK executive vice president for health affairs. "We have strived to incorporate the arts in the form of visual and performing arts, as well as in the architecture, the landscaping and the clinical experience to create a healing environment for our patients, their families and our staff."

Arts in health care is a diverse, multidisciplinary field dedicated to transforming the healthcare experience by connecting people with the power of the arts at key moments of their lives. This rapidly growing field integrates the arts—including literary, performing, and visual arts and design—into a wide variety of health care and community settings for therapeutic, education, and expressive purposes.

"The art collection being developed will bring a sense of place that is truly a 'Kentucky experience' for patients and visitors to the new UK HealthCare facility," said Arturo Alonzo Sandoval, UK Alumni Endowed Professor of Art.

Studies show that integrating the arts into healthcare settings helps to cultivate a healing environment; support the physical, mental, and emotional recovery of patients;  communicate health and recovery information; and foster a positive environment for caregivers that reduces stress and improves workplace satisfaction and retention.

The new UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital will not look or sound like a traditional hospital, thanks to the UK Arts in HealthCare program. The program will highlight local, national and international artists, art in multiple forms and various initiatives to enhance the healing environment.

Many of the visual art pieces throughout the hospital are chosen to represent a "Uniquely Kentucky" theme, including a "Celebrate Kentucky Wall" and a collection of Kentucky folk art.

The performing arts is organized under the Lucille Caudill Little Performing Arts in HealthCare Program and will bring performances by renowned artists and UK School of Music faculty and students to the new 300-seat auditorium. The Lucille Caudill Little Performing Arts in HealthCare Program will also offer, through the UK School of Music, the only music therapy graduate degree program in Kentucky.

As part of the Lucille Caudill Little Performing Arts in HealthCare Program, the inaugural Teresa Garbulinska Annual Premier Concert Series was created by long-time UK rheumatologist Ronald Saykaly, MD, to honor his wife, an internationally renowned pianist. The series will bring an internationally renowned artist to the hospital auditorium on an annual basis. The Overture to Healing Concert was the inaugural concert of this series.

For a closer look at the art and artists featured in the new UK Chandler Hospital, view the Arts in HealthCare brochure, or visit the UK HealthCare Arts in Healing Program website.