University of Memphis’ Institute for Arts and Health to Host Symposium on Connecting Mind and Body to Bring Healing Through the Arts
Can art be therapeutic for both the body and mind? Absolutely! In fact, it’s been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, while promoting relaxation and self-expression. That’s why the Institute for Arts and Health at the University of Memphis is organizing an exciting symposium on the theme of “Connecting Mind and Body to Bring Healing Through the Arts”. This first-ever symposium will feature presentations and discussions by some of the leading local experts in the field of arts and health.
Some of the topics covered in the symposium sessions will include trauma healing, resilience, and the impact of art and design collaborations. We’ll also explore how traumatic experiences affect the voice, and how expressive arts processes can be utilized in implementing after-school group interventions to address trauma among African refugees.
“The UofM’s Institute for Arts and Health is excited to host this important symposium on the power of the arts to heal and recover from trauma,” said Dr. Ryan Fisher, interim dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts. “Our sessions will offer practical information, grounded in research and engaged scholarship, for how arts and design can be used to recover from traumatic experiences.”
Sessions will be presented by distinguished individuals, including:
Susan Elswick – UofM Professor in the Department of Social Work
Ebony Barnes – Project Coordinator at the Center for the Advancement of Youth Development
Christy Peterson – Associate Director at the Center for the Advancement of Youth Development
Virginia Reed Murphy – Founder and Director of PlayBack Memphis
Miriam van Mersbergen – UfM Assistant Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Jazmin Miller – Executive Director at the Carpenter Art Garden
Kelsey Harrison – UofM Assistant Professor in the Department of Art & Design
and Jenna Thompson – UofM Associate Professor in the Department of Architecture
“We are excited to bring together such an esteemed group of experts in the field of arts and health,” said Fisher. “Our hope is that the symposium will provide a platform for meaningful discussion and foster new collaborations that will advance the field of arts and health in the Mid-South.”
The symposium will be Monday, May 1, 2023, from 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm at the UofM Humphreys Theatre Building, Main Stage, located at 3745 Central Ave.
It’s free and open to the public, with free parking available at the Innovation Dr. Garage on Fogelman Way.
Light beverages and refreshments will also be served.
To RSVP and sign up for Continuing Education Units, go to https://tinyurl.com/UofMIAH
Symposium topics will include:
> Trauma Healing Club: Utilizing Culturally Responsive Expressive Arts Processes in the Implementation of an After-School Group Intervention to Address Trauma Among African Refugees
> From Adversity to Resilience: Catalyzing Growth, Healing, and Flourishing through Playback Theatre
> Body, Mind, and Voice: How Trauma Experiences Affect the Voice
> Impact of Art and Design Collaborations with Carpenter Art Garden
For more information about the symposium, please visit the Institute for Arts and Health go to our website – https://memphis.edu/artsandhealth