"transformation" Photo C. McLean
C. McLean, Publisher IJCAIP
Having been active in the creative arts in interdisciplinary practice for several years, I'm very encouraged by all the recent buzz about arts based health research as we see a number of new investigative initiatives springing up across Canada. Artists, health researchers, scholars and educators are meeting at the same conference tables to explore new and creative forms of arts based research to discuss the work, approaches and processes. One recent meeting agenda described their workshop as "a unique opportunity for researchers of multiple disciplines to bring to bear, under one collective umbrella, matters of meaning and communication, matters of methods and matters of theoretical knowledge that feed and enrich the area of arts based research."
On October 26, representing The International Journal of the Creative Arts in Interdisciplinary Practice, IJCAIP, I was invited to attend a workshop on "Exploring Transformative Potential of Arts based Health Research" hosted by Scientist, Katherine Boydell, ( The Hospital for Sick Children), at Hart House, University of Toronto. I was pleased to note that among the participants were social scientists, scholars, nurse educators, students as well as many artists in attendance including nationally recognized dramatists, visual artists, artist researcher/poets, dancers and others lending their voices and opinions to the animated discussions at the workshop. On November 20, another workshop took place in Vancouver at The University of British Columbia called "Arts Based Methods in Health Research" hosted by investigators Susan Cox, Centre for Applied Ethics and George Belliveau, Language and Literacy Education. Dr. Belliveau is also an Advisory Board member for The International Journal of The Creative Arts in Interdisciplinary Practice, IJCAIP.
These recent meetings in Canada, attended by educators and leaders across disciplines, are yet another encouraging indication of the growing interest globally in the field of the creative arts in interdisciplinary practice. We will hope that as a result of these new initiatives, successful creative arts, science and health research alliances will be forged within our country and beyond, partnerships that could help create enriching and innovative opportunities for learning and the potential for future programmes benefitting individuals and communities worldwide.
Cheryl McLean, Publisher IJCAIP, http://www.ijcaip.com
Editor, "Creative Arts in Interdisciplinary Practice, Inquiries for Hope and Change"
http://www.creativeartpractice.blogspot.com
