ARTS & CULTURE AS APOTHECARY

Healing Murals in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District Canton Alley painted by artists Sami Hilario and Shea Daily

What is it?

Arts & Culture as Apothecary (ACA) is a Wing Luke Museum initiative that believes arts promote overall wellness.

It is based on the idea that art, culture, and heritage embody an overwhelming capacity to enhance our mental wellbeing and sense of physical wellness. Actively participating in the arts, whether as a creator or viewer, can be transformative, inspiring, uplifting, and life-enhancing, offering a therapeutic outlet.

How was it developed?

The ACA concept is based on the idea that seeing one’s stories told, having one’s unique experiences reflected, and having acknowledgment that one’s experiences matter, brings an overall feeling of pride, joy, reflection, and satisfaction. ACA can strengthen communities and serve emotional and mental wellness, which impacts our physical wellness.

Though the term “Arts & Culture as Apothecary” is new to the Museum, its work over its nearly 60-year history has embodied this approach. The concepts of “belonging,” “being seen,” and “seeing oneself” in the Museum’s programs and exhibits illustrate the role that culture, art, and heritage plays in strengthening the community fabric.

Why is it important?

Numerous studies show that the arts can lead to healthier people and communities. Increasing research draws the connection to the healing power of art:

  • Older adults who participate in the arts report experience a 48 percent lower risk of depression and a 44 percent reduction in dementia.

  • The health benefit of arts is the equivalent to that of weekly exercise.

  • Participating in the arts is show to reduce stress and loneliness, and can impact hypertension and heart disease.

  • Young adults are more likely to stay in school if they are exposed to the arts.

  • 4 out of 5 young adults with arts experiences are more likely to vote.

  • According to the Mayo Clinic, creative arts therapy is used to treat mental health conditions because it improves focus, improves self-esteem and communication, and assists in emotion regulation.