edition 16

December 2005

The Health and Wellness Issue:

An Introduction by Claire Hopkinson, Executive Director

We thought we would focus this issue of the Coalition Newsletter on a number of “health and well being” issues in the arts community.

Why? For a number of reasons. The spectre of a possible flu pandemic certainly brings to mind why health is important - not only to individuals but to the community as a whole. SARS and the ensuing publicity, for instance, affected the entire cultural community for more than two years. What’s our plan for this one – if – it strikes? Despite great vitality and incredible resilience, Toronto’s arts community is also fragile and largely unprepared for major setbacks.

Moreover, my previous work with Creative Trust has made me think deeply about the notion of organizational health, and how important it is for arts organizations to have healthy working relationships between artists, board and staff, and maintain a healthy balance between mission (ambition) and resources. Many visual artists also work in unsafe, toxic environments.

We all know people in the arts community who devote themselves almost exclusively to their art, without regard to short and long term physical and emotional health impacts. This behaviour is almost institutionalised the mythology of “an artist”. But does it really produce better work?

And while there are many things that artists and arts workers cannot control within their environment, there are things that we each can do to improve the quality of our lives, and that we can collectively do to ensure a healthier community.

I hope the articles and “calls to action” inspire you. After all, this is the season to celebrate a sense of well being!

Claire Hopkinson
Executive Director
Toronto Arts Council
Toronto Arts Council Foundation