First-Ever Artist Health and Wellness Event Slated for Fall 2015

The University of Houston Libraries will host the Artists’ Health and Wellness Colloquium and Resource Fair on October 3, 2015, the first of its kind at the University.

The University of Houston Libraries will host the Artists’ Health and Wellness Colloquium and Resource Fair on October 3, 2015, the first of its kind at the University.

The University of Houston Libraries will host the Artist Health and Wellness Colloquium and Resource Fair on October 3, 2015, the first of its kind at the University.

This free, day-long event is open to students, faculty and staff, and the general public, and will be held at the MD Anderson Library. The event is designed to increase access to information and resources on safe and healthy practices for artists and performers through a unique learning experience, by bringing together community artists, health professionals and arts organizations.

“Artists in all genres have specific issues in wellness that are unique to their profession,” said Stephanie Lewin-Lane, coordinator of the UH Music Library and one of the event organizers. “A solid understanding of safe and healthy practices within their field will ensure that they are able to create within their art form for many, many years.”

Aspiring and working artists will learn techniques for maintaining good health and ways to avoid overstressing the body as they practice their art. Scholars will also present both historical and trending perspectives on the intersection of art and health science. Topics of particular interest to performing artists include repetitive motion, nutrition, voice scoping, stress management, performance anxiety, and body alignment. The event will culminate with a resource fair.

C. Richard Stasney, deputy chief of otolaryngology at The Methodist Hospital, will deliver the keynote address, with an introduction by Jefferson Todd Frazier, director of the Center for Performing Arts Medicine at The Methodist Hospital. Breakout session speakers include Stacey Gorniak, assistant professor of health and human performance at UH; John Harvey, director of the Center for Creative Work, Honors College, UH; and Teresa Chapman, associate professor of dance, UH.

For more information and to register, visit the Artist Health and Wellness Colloquium and Resource Fair web site.

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Posted on July 29th, 2015 by Esmeralda Fisher and filed under Announcements | Comments Off on First-Ever Artist Health and Wellness Event Slated for Fall 2015