Towards a caring practice: reflections the processes and components of arts-health practice
Link to Article
To Cite:
Michael Koon Boon Tan (2018) Towards a caring practice: reflections the processes and components of arts-health practice, Arts & Health, DOI: 10.1080/17533015.2018.1494452
ABSTRACT
Background: Many arts and health studies have focused on evaluating the impact of participatory arts activities, but few have considered the processes and components shaping the wellbeing outcomes of the participants. This paper uses a relational approach to health to explore the elements at play in participatory arts.
Methods: The study uses an action-research case study of a 12-week visual art programme in a nursing home with 10 participants. Data collected were analysed and interpreted using grounded theory to obtain general themes and to facilitate focused analysis.
Results: The study identifies the participants, wellbeing outcomes, the environment and the quality of activities as key concerns of arts-health practice. It also reflects on the link between caring and arts-health practice to highlight several caring attributes that promote a caring arts-health practice.
Conclusions: The study findings provide a practice framework that can guide decision making and action to foster a caring arts-health practice.
Published by Michael Tan Koon Boon
Michael Tan’s research lies at the intersection of Art, Health and Wellbeing. As a leading advocate for arts and health development in Singapore, he has been active in promoting awareness for arts and health among stakeholders in the fields of arts, health and social care. He has developed and conducted art–health programs in various care settings in Singapore, such as the Singapore General Hospital, The National University Hospital and the Singapore Parkinson’s society. In recent years, Michael has broadened the scope of his practice to examine the role and benefit of art engagement in eldercare.
In 2012, Michael partnered with the Agency for Integrated Care to investigate the benefits of art engagement for residents in a local nursing home. He was recently engaged by the Alzheimer’s Disease Associate of Singapore to develop an integrated art making and museum visit program for its members. He also serves as a member of the art advisory committee in the new Ng Teng Fong Hospital.
Michael holds a PhD in Arts and Health from Durham University, a Masters in Photography & Urban Cultures from Goldsmith College, University of London, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is also the recipient of the Singapore National Arts Council Post Graduate Scholarship (2012) and was awarded the Nanyang Award for Excellence in Teaching by NTU in 2011.
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Michael Tan Koon Boon 