Arts in Health Netherlands is a national network that brings together a unique coalition of organizations from healthcare, social welfare, arts and culture, education, and research. Arts in Health Netherlands is also active locally in Groningen, as Arts in Health Groningen, to help create more sustainable programs, develop education and facilitate research.

We are artists, healthcare staff, educators, researchers, administrators, and funders, united behind a national agenda, helping the field realise its vision.

Our work supports the Dutch healthcare system’s transformation toward a more positive, person-focused system of care. We believe that the arts can play an active role in healthcare, by enhancing the wellbeing of patients and healthcare staff, and supporting disease prevention and access to care in communities.

The mission of Arts in Health Netherlands is to give creative art-making a permanent place in the care systems of the Netherlands. We work with care institutions, communities, and local governments to develop sustainable arts in health programmes. We also develop and implement pilot programmes for arts in health practice; create training for university students and mid-career professionals; facilitate arts in health research; collaborate and network with partner organizations and governments to promote national policy and help establish Groningen as a hub for the arts in health field in the Netherlands.

Mission

Arts in Health Netherlands is a national network that brings together a unique coalition of organizations from healthcare, social welfare, arts and culture, education, and research. Arts in Health Netherlands is also active locally in Groningen, as Arts in Health Groningen, to help create more sustainable programs, develop education and facilitate research.

We are artists, healthcare staff, educators, researchers, administrators, and funders, united behind a national agenda, helping the field realise its vision.

Our work supports the Dutch healthcare system’s transformation toward a more positive, person-focused system of care. We believe that the arts can play an active role in healthcare, by enhancing the wellbeing of patients and healthcare staff, and supporting disease prevention and access to care in communities.

The mission of Arts in Health Netherlands is to give creative art-making a permanent place in the care systems of the Netherlands. We work with care institutions, communities, and local governments to develop sustainable arts in health programmes. We also develop and implement pilot programmes for arts in health practice; create training for university students and mid-career professionals; facilitate arts in health research; collaborate and network with partner organizations and governments to promote national policy and help establish Groningen as a hub for the arts in health field in the Netherlands.

Vision

Arts in Health Netherlands is a national network that brings together a unique coalition of organizations from healthcare, social welfare, arts and culture, education, and research. Arts in Health Netherlands is also active locally in Groningen, as Arts in Health Groningen, to help create more sustainable programs, develop education and facilitate research.

We are artists, healthcare staff, educators, researchers, administrators, and funders, united behind a national agenda, helping the field realise its vision.

Our work supports the Dutch healthcare system’s transformation toward a more positive, person-focused system of care. We believe that the arts can play an active role in healthcare, by enhancing the wellbeing of patients and healthcare staff, and supporting disease prevention and access to care in communities.

The mission of Arts in Health Netherlands is to give creative art-making a permanent place in the care systems of the Netherlands. We work with care institutions, communities, and local governments to develop sustainable arts in health programmes. We also develop and implement pilot programmes for arts in health practice; create training for university students and mid-career professionals; facilitate arts in health research; collaborate and network with partner organizations and governments to promote national policy and help establish Groningen as a hub for the arts in health field in the Netherlands.

Arts in Health Netherlands is

Kirsten Krans

Kirsten Krans

Program Director

Kirsten holds a master’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of Groningen and has extensive experience in public engagement and arts & science programming. She is the founder and director of the Dutch contemporary dance platform Random Collision, and is a co-founder of the national touring dance festival Moving Futures.

Ferdinand Lewis

Ferdinand Lewis

Director of Science and Education

Ferdinand serves on the Humanities faculty of the University College Groningen. He was a Director of the Center for Building Better Communities at the University of Florida, and an artist in residence at the University of Florida Shands Hospital.

Liza van Eijck

Liza van Eijck

Program Assistant

Liza has supported projects on Open Science-public engagement and education in public health. She set up a studio for paper maché for people with mental disabilities in Utrecht. She has a degree in Architecture from the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Utrecht and Interior/Concept Styling at Artemis in Amsterdam.

Anne Roncoli

Anne Roncoli

Project Assistant

Anne is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Groningen, where she also received her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences. Anne is also a Project Assistant at the Aletta Jacob School of Public Health.

Twan Tromp

Twan Tromp

Research Assistant

Twan graduated from the University College Groningen majoring in Humanities. Currently he is pursuing master’s degrees in Arts and Culture and in Philosophy at the University of Groningen.

National Alliance Arts in Health

Astrid Weij

Kunsten '92

Barbara Groot-Sluijsmans

Barbara Groot-Sluijsmans

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculty of Science

Barbara van Leeuwen

Barbara van Leeuwen

University Medical Center Groningen

Ferdinand Lewis

Ferdinand Lewis

Arts in Health Netherlands; Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health; University College Groningen

Hanneke van der Wal-Huisman

Hanneke van der Wal-Huisman

University Medical Center Groningen

Kirsten Krans

Arts in Health Netherlands; Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health

Marlies Tal

Landelijk Kennisinstituut Cultuureducatie en Amateurkunst

Organizations we work with include

Main partners

Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health

Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health

Codarts

Codarts

Cordaan

Cordaan

Creating Cultures of Care

Creating Cultures of Care

Dijklander Ziekenhuis

Dijklander Ziekenhuis

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Gemeente Eemsdelta

Gemeente Eemsdelta

Gemeente Tilburg

Gemeente Tilburg

Hanze University of Applied Sciences

Hanze University of Applied Sciences

Kunsten'92

Kunsten'92

Landelijk Kennisinstituut Cultuureducatie en Amateurkunst

Landelijk Kennisinstituut Cultuureducatie en Amateurkunst

Leeuwarden Oost

Leeuwarden Oost

Leiden Academy on Vitality and Ageing

Leiden Academy on Vitality and Ageing

Museum van de Geest

Museum van de Geest

Muziekschool Boedijn

Muziekschool Boedijn

NHL Stenden Hogeschool

NHL Stenden Hogeschool

Nationaal Programma Groningen

Nationaal Programma Groningen

Noordwoord

Noordwoord

Peergroup

Peergroup

ROC Amsterdam

ROC Amsterdam

Raad van Twaalf

Raad van Twaalf

Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau

Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau

Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen

Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen

University of Groningen

University of Groningen

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

ZonMw

ZonMw

‍Why Arts in health matters

Why Arts in Health matters

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The human side of care

You can receive excellent care and still not feel seen. You can give everything you have and still feel like it’s not enough. Healthcare is under pressure, and that’s often when the human side of care gets lost.

Art helps bring that person back into view. Over thirty years of international research show that art can support health and well-being. This is arts in health.

Video

See for yourself

Arts in health is already happening across the Netherlands. Artists and healthcare professionals work side by side in hospitals, nursing homes, and people’s homes. The result: more calm, stronger connection, and more space for what people truly need.

Collaborate?

How can you contribute?

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Policy

Moving from isolated initiatives to lasting integration in healthcare requires policy. Do you see the value of arts in health and want to help embed it in policy and funding?

For policymakers

Education

Working with art in healthcare calls for specific skills and a thoughtful approach. Do you want to contribute to education that prepares artists and healthcare professionals for this work?

Research

Scientific research forms the foundation of arts in health. Do you want to contribute to a growing international knowledge base and help shape the research agenda?

For researchers

Practice

Artists and healthcare professionals are already working together, showing what art can bring to care. Do you want to give art a place in your own work or organization?

For practitioners

Join us

The Arts in Health Alliance

We are building the Arts in Health Alliance: a network where practice, research, education, and policy come together.

Participating organizations: LKCA, Kunsten'92, UMCG, VU, HvA, Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health, RUG, ROC van Amsterdam, Cultuur Oost, Codarts, Gemeente Tilburg, Vilans, Kunstloc Brabant, Axion.

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