Creative Conversations with Arts Foundation of Cape Cod presents:
Can creativity help us heal?

Thursday, October 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM
Neptune’s at 541 Main Street in Hyannis

The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod will bring together artists, healthcare professionals, veterans, and community members for a free Creative Conversation, Where Art Meets Wellness, that will explore how creativity can be used as tool to help people process trauma, reconnect, and heal.

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The event will focus on the experiences of individuals who are serving and have served our country as a larger community discussion about how the arts can support health and wellness.

“Research has shown that the arts can play a role in not only preventive health, but in the management and treatment of a variety of medical conditions. Next month, we will explore how it can be used to address trauma,” said Arts Foundation Executive Director Julie Wake. “We want to bring artists together with healthcare practitioners and other sectors to determine what is possible when we start thinking about creativity as a component of individual and community wellness.”

 The conversation will feature Dr. Kumara Sidhartha; Dr. Raja Sinjab, Co-Founder and Clinical Director of Real Eyes Truth in Hyannis; Naomi Czupryna of Centerville, an Army combat veteran and artist who found healing through the arts; Sam Holmstock of Cotuit, a musician and owner of Drum Strategies Through Healing; and Mark Gilliard, who works with veterans through Guitars 4 Vets.

 Panelists will offer reflections on their experiences on the connection between the arts and health before opening the floor to questions, conversation, and reflection.

 The Arts Foundation launched its Creative Conversations series in March, when it partnered with the Harwich Conservation Trust to connect the arts community with representatives from local land trusts. Nearly 50 people attended the event which encouraged collaboration between the arts and conservation.

 Where Arts Meets Wellness is the second in the series which is designed to facilitate and strengthen relationships between individuals working in the arts with those working in other sectors. The goal of each session is to exchange ideas and consider new ways of working together to address important issues on the Cape.

“Our creative community has so much to contribute to the challenges and opportunities facing our region,” Wake said. “Creative Conversations are about making those connections and ensuring artists have a seat at the table. We want to create the space for new relationships and ideas to emerge.”

 Future Creative Conversations will tackle other issues affecting Cape Cod, including housing, the environment, and education.