Posted on May 30, 2025 by Breanna Castillo
UTSA Arts, SAY Sí , UTSA Medical Humanities, UTSA Heath, UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy, and Bexar County Public Health came together to explore the role of arts and culture with the event Art is Healing that featured poetry readings, guest speakers, and participatory arts stations run by local artists for participants of all ages.
People sitting at a sound installation
May 30, 2025 – In April, UTSA Arts, SAY Sí , UTSA Medical Humanities, UTSA Heath, UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy, and Bexar County Public Health came together to explore the role of arts and culture with the event Art is Healing that featured poetry readings, guest speakers, and participatory arts stations run by local artists for participants of all ages. The event was held on San Antonio’s west side at the SAY Sí building.
“Art is Healing was really a celebration of community and our shared desire for wellness, connection, and joy. Participating in the arts is one way we can build healthy communities, and our time together was a testament to that. It was special to spend the afternoon joining in the creative workshops led by local artists and hearing the inspirational words of leaders from across San Antonio, “said Emilie Amrein, College of Liberal and Fine Arts Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Founding Director of UTSA Arts.
According to the Arts for Everybody Campaign, research has shown that “Older adults who participate in the arts report a 48% lower risk of depression and a 44% reduction in dementia. The health benefits of arts participation are equivalent to the benefits of weekly exercise. Participating in the arts reduces stress and loneliness, which are risk factors for a wide range of ailments, including hypertension and heart disease. There are also social benefits - young adults are more likely to stay in school and 4 out of 5 young adults who had arts-rich experiences are more likely to vote.”
“The collaboration brought together organizations dedicated to promoting well-being and access to arts education for the San Antonio community. It’s the start of a larger initiative to elevate the healing power of community arts,” said Rhonda BeLue, UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Partnerships.
The art stations led by local artists Robin Johnson, Reese Lundquist, Mark Menjivar, Amalia Ortiz, Lilith Tijerina, and Tanesha Payne had activities such as an interactive bird song activity, button making, live figure drawing circle, poetry reading circle, improv theatre, and dance movement. Each station offered moments of reflection and self-discovery about oneself and being a part of a community.
Payne a dancer, creator, advocate, and teaching artist based in San Antonio led a standout dance movement station. Participants at her station engaged in a communal somatic movement experience that included breathwork and intuitive movement designed to deepen self-awareness and connection with others. “These exercises invited us to listen to our bodies as guides, exploring how the way we move in a moment reflects the way we move through life. By fostering presence and curiosity, we revealed the wisdom our bodies already hold,” explained Payne.
“It was a true honor to hold space for this shared exploration and to contribute to an event that uplifts the transformative power of the arts.”
Guest speakers First Lady of UTSA Peggy Eighmy, First Lady of San Antonio Erika Prosper, Irene Chavez, and Councilwoman Rebeca Clay Flores echoed the themes of healing, resilience, and the importance of community in San Antonio.
“We are grateful for the participants and artists who came to experience the healing power of participatory arts and taking the time to be in community, be mindful and to co-create" said BeLue.
Event collaborators hope to host the event again in the future.
— Breanna Castillo
