CreateSA, in partnership with the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, in collaboration with the World Health Organization
Healing Arts South Australia is the first of its kind in the nation and in the Southern Hemisphere. Delivered in partnership with Jameel Arts & Health Lab and in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Healing Arts South Australia will take place from 3 – 9 May 2027. The initiative positions South Australia as a national leader in exploring how arts and creative practice can support physical, psychological and social wellbeing.
Healing Arts is an internationally recognised initiative delivered in cities including London, New York, Barcelona, Paris, Jaipur and Singapore. Each host city curates its own program of exhibitions, workshops, performances and knowledge‑sharing events, bringing together artists, health professionals, researchers and communities.
South Australia’s proposed week‑long program will be open to the public and is intended to include interactive workshops, exhibitions, concerts, cultural activities, research symposia and knowledge‑sharing sessions across metropolitan and regional areas, with opportunities to participate both in person and online. The program will explore how different art forms can support health and wellbeing, alongside emerging research and examples of arts‑in‑health practice from South Australia and internationally.
Global research, including a major review by the WHO, indicates that creative activities such as music, movement and visual arts can support recovery, improve motor function, reduce pain and contribute to the prevention of mental ill health. Healing Arts Week aims to translate this evidence into accessible public programs and shared learning experiences.
The initiative aligns with the ambitions of South Australia’s 10‑Year Cultural Policy, A Place to Create, which recognises arts, culture and creativity as essential to strengthening communities, supporting social connection and improving quality of life.
Why this matters
Healing Arts South Australia highlights the role artists and creative practitioners play in supporting health, wellbeing and community connection. It supports stronger relationships between the arts and health sectors, facilitates dialogue about creative practice in healthcare and community settings, and raises awareness of the ways creative participation can contribute to recovery, inclusion and quality of life across South Australia.
Art in health is vital because it heals the human spirit. Music and art connect us to something deeper than words — something universal that lives within us all. They allow our logical minds to rest and find safety in expression. I have personally experienced the healing power of music through my own journey with depression and anxiety. It has helped me find connection and confidence, and I have witnessed it transform the lives of people who cannot speak or perform everyday tasks.
— Bree Tranter, musician and arts and music disability support worker
Through rigorous evaluations of arts-in-health programmes, the Jameel Arts & Health Lab is uncovering new ways in which creative practices can support faster patient recovery and enhance overall wellbeing.
— Nader Diab, Head of Programme, Community, Jameel Arts & Health Lab
A Place to Create ambition
South Australia is home to world-class artists, cultural organisations and creative industries.
Delivery Plan action
This activity aligns with Action 1.3.5 of the A Place to Create Delivery Plan 2025-27: Exploring new initiatives and partnerships to amplify and extend the health benefits of arts, culture and creativity for South Australian communities.
