Healing Arts Arabia

Part of the WHO’s 75th anniversary programme, Healing Arts Arabia was a three-day initiative across two cities to mark the launch of a regional programme advocating for improved physical, mental, and social health through the arts. Events included a high-level research to policy roundtable hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Health, an arts, health, and climate panel hosted by Aeon Collective, and a Healing Power of Islamic Art and Architecture tour, accompanied by architect Dr Sami Angawi, of the International Medical Centre in Jeddah and the Hayy Jameel arts complex. A policy roundtable was hosted by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health exploring current and potential strategies for enhancing wellbeing and health outcomes in the nation.

22 October 2023 | Arts, Health, and Climate Panel Discussion

Aeon Collective Tree Library, Riyadh

Hosted by Aeon Collective in its Riyadh Tree Library, this panel was moderated by Princess Mashael bint Saud Al-Shalan (cofounder of Aeon Collective), with Carlos Duarte (Professor of Marine Science, KAUST), Dr Nisha Sajnani (Founding Co-Director, JAHL), and Mikolaj Sekutowicz (cofounder of infrastructure initiative Impact One). 

Dr Nisha Sajnani commented, “The arts have a unique role to play in addressing the health impacts of climate change. Consider how aesthetics awaken our senses. Compare this to the opposite, anaesthetics, which numb and put us to sleep. In the face of the climate crisis, what we need is the aesthetics of art to wake us up to each other and to the urgent realities around us. Artists and arts therapists can help us understand and process the complexities of climate change while also guiding us towards hopeful action.”

23 October 2023 | The Healing Power of Islamic Art and Architecture with Dr Sami Angawi

International Medical Centre, Jeddah

The Lab accompanied architect Dr Sami Angawi for a tour of the International Medical Centre in Jeddah, an Angawi House that he designed in the Hejazi-style.

Christopher Bailey (Founding Co-Director, JAHL) said, "Having the opportunity to discuss Islamic art-infused hospital design with Dr Angawi, including the choices he made as the principal architect of this medical centre, provided valuable insight into the principles of health-conscious design in a clinical setting. A true melding of space, beauty, connection, and healing using culturally relevant forms and practices."

25 October 2023 | Arts and Health Roundtable: Research to Policy

Ministry of Health, Riyadh

The Arts and Health Roundtable was hosted by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health, and explored current and potential strategies to enhance wellbeing and health outcomes for the national health service undergoing a transformational change. One of the outcomes of the roundtable was a proposal to identify a pilot study to assess the impact of the arts in a priority health sector.

Making use of the Lab’s research to drive the meeting, Assistant Saudi Minister of Health Dr Mohammad Al-Abdulaali said, “We are open to accepting evidence-based approaches and practices that deliver healthcare impact, including adding the arts as a way of healing those that are suffering from illnesses. We also believe that the arts could play an important harmonising role between physical, mental, environmental, and social health.”