About The Conference
The Arts in Health Conference, held on May 27, 2026, brought together people from across New Jersey who care about the role of the arts in health and well-being, with a special spotlight on South Jersey. As the Center’s first conference, the gathering created space for connection, idea-sharing, and relationship-building in this growing field.
The program included keynote speaker Melanie Cohn, a panel discussion, interactive ArtWise Rx experiences led by teaching artists, a resource fair, and time to connect and spark new collaborations.
View the conference recap below, along with more information about our amazing panelists.
Download Conference Program HERE
Free registration made possible by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Inspira Health.
Our Keynote Speaker
Melanie Cohn
Executive Director of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
Melanie Franklin Cohn is an artist, arts administrator, and advocate for the power of art to support healing, connection, and human dignity. She serves as Executive Director of the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey and recently served as President of the National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH), where she helped champion the growing field of arts in health on a national level.
Melanie’s work sits at the intersection of art, community, and care. Over the course of her career, she has built programs that expand access to creative expression and support people across a range of life experiences, including veterans, justice-impacted individuals, and cultural heritage communities. Her professional background includes leadership roles at the New Museum, Staten Island Arts, and the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey. She holds an MFA from the School of Visual Arts, a BFA from Missouri State University, and is a certified yoga teacher.
Our ArtWise Rx Experience: Teaching Artists
Rasheed Bellamy
Regional Samaúma
Nancy Sophy
Our Arts in Health Conference Panel
This panel brought together a dynamic group of leaders and practitioners across arts, healthcare, and community engagement, including:
- Faith Young, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine and Core Faculty at the Edward D. Viner Center for Humanism, specializing in Hematology and Medical Oncology
- Swati Chaturvedi, founder of the Community Bollywood Dance Project
- Pam Weichmann, Director of Education and Artist Services at WheatonArts
- Andi Hunt, Music Therapist and Director of Music Therapy at Rowan University
- Alex King, DO, Interim Chair of the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Department, Associate Professor, and Residency Director at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Kahra Buss, Executive Director of Perkins Center for the Arts.
Together, they explored how creative practices are already supporting wellbeing, where meaningful collaborations are taking place, and the value of integrating the arts into healthcare settings. The conversation also looked ahead to future opportunities, highlighting how cross-sector partnerships can expand access, deepen impact, and support more holistic approaches to care.
Meet Our MC: Emily J. Balog
Emily is an occupational therapist, translational health scientist, educator, artist, and U.S. Air Force veteran. She is an Associate Professor at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine whose work bridges health, community, and creativity through her research in aging, interprofessional education, disaster preparedness, and community-based art initiatives that promote participation, connection, and wellbeing across the lifespan.
Meet Our Moderator: Andrew Binger
Andrew is Program Officer for Community Partnerships at the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, managing the $6 million Local Arts Program and co-leading statewide arts and health initiatives. He works with county arts agencies and cross-sector partners to expand access to arts funding, community development, and cultural engagement across New Jersey. Andrew has earned a Master of Social Justice from Union Theological Seminary, championing equity, inclusion, and community engagement through the arts.