Art has the power to move us in so many ways.

It moves us to connect, create, reflect and spark conversations alongside many other things. 

I believe that art can create a stir inside all of us, and sometimes it just takes leaning into an inspiring moment. For me, this moment came through a conversation in a coffee shop with my co-creator Chloe van Landschoot. We were talking about being overcome with the feeling of being deeply alone throughout the pandemic as healthcare workers.

This led us toward the idea of creating a community that centered art as the connective tissue that kept us together during our darkest moments. 

Chloe, being an actress and film director, had shared with me a short film that she had created to express the inner workings of a healthcare worker during such a turbulent time. I had instantly bonded with what she was saying as I too had changed my direction in visual art, creating large abstract pieces that conveyed my longing for freedom. Together we decided to create an event that would bring others like us in one space to honor each other, and build community. 

Collective H’arts was born. < H’arts > a Collective of H’ealthcare Artists. Putting this event together brought together healthcare professionals from across disciplines to share their expression. Most importantly it provided an opportunity to witness each other and feel seen. We shared stories of our courage, burnout and creative resilience. If you know a healthcare worker, you know that these moments are rare to witness.Community in a creative space rather than a resuscitation room. Both carry their own magic but the former makes space for our bodies to finally relax. 

Collective H’arts; Frontline to Front Row brought together artists from across the city and across disciplines. It was a multimodal event that brought together disparate communities for one night of shared expression.  It was an honor to share the stage with these artists on May 12th.

We had the opportunity to raise about $5000, which they will match, for inner city health associates organization The ICHA works with shelter providers, community health and social support agencies, hospitals, the City of Toronto and regional health planners to bring integrated care and support to people who are homeless and precariously housed. The funds will go towards creative expression and resilience building for the staff. As fellow healthcare professionals we know the impact of compassion fatigue when caring for complex populations. 

We hope the essence of this event resonates with you. Start thinking about creative ways to engage your staff, consider employing healthcare artists at conferences, make space for art and creativity in your everyday practice which can simply look like asking a colleague about their creative interests.