The State of the Arts and Health Care

Montana Arts Council

This summer, the Montana Arts Council (MAC) published the results of a survey inventorying the state of the arts and health care in Montana. The project sought to explore perceptions and possible partnerships among the arts and medical communities across the state. To gain a 360-degree perspective on the issue, MAC surveyed direct medical care providers, health administrators, artists and arts organizations. Key opportunities highlighted by the survey included these findings:

• Eighty-six percent of medical providers and administrators believe the arts can reduce patient stress.
• Just more than 50% understand arts integration can help lower the need for pain and anxiety medication.
• Nearly half of providers indicated an interest in adding arts programs for patients, special populations and staff, and one-third supported adding ongoing multidisciplinary arts programming.
• Nearly 70% of arts organizations that responded to the MAC survey were eager to offer a program or event in the future that blends the arts, health care and healing.

MAC will use the survey results to determine where the state arts agency’s technical and financial assistance might best be directed to facilitate stronger connections between the arts and healing and to reduce barriers to integrating the arts into medical care. Find out more from  MAC’s Kim Baraby Hurtle, 406-444-6639.