Arts and Healing Program Presents Speaker

The Kentucky Centerhas launched a new arts and healing program that’s bringing a leader in arts and health care to speak there tomorrow. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer reports.Jill Sonkee is the co-founder and director of a center for the arts in healthcare at the University of Florida. And she’ll speak about her experiences and research on how art improves healing.The presentation is part of the Kentucky Center’s new program, which is aimed at encouraging more arts activities and performances at regional health care facilities.Robin Hicks is managing the new program. She says the Kentucky Center plans to work with health professionals and artists in the community in a variety of ways."One way is an artists-in-residence program, and that is where we will train a professional corps of artists to work in health care settings and hospitals," Hicks says.Hicks says the Kentucky Center will arrange for national artists work at local heath facilities."When we have national performing artists come in, whether it’s the Soweto Gospel Choir or the Mark Morris Dance Group, we can either have workshops or even mini-performances in health care facilities," she says.Last month, the Center arranged for the Mark Morris Dance Group to hold a dance class at the Frazier Rehab Institute for patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease.¦lt;br /> Hicks has been tracking research about the arts into health care.¦lt;br /> "Research demonstrates that the arts not only improve the quality of patient care and bring comfort to patients and families, but it helps staff retention and satisfaction, " she says.21247   SPOT 02: Arts in Healing :12“…or even mini-performances in health care facilities.” Hicks says research demonstrates the art improve the quality of patient care and bring comfort to patients.