The Conference
Arts in Health will bring together people from across New Jersey who care about the role of the arts in health and wellbeing, with a special spotlight on South Jersey. The gathering will create space to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen relationships in this growing field.
The program will include a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, interactive arts experiences led by leading teaching artists, a resource fair, and time to connect and spark new collaborations.
Free registration made possible by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Inspira Health.
Experience Arts in Health
Registration is now closed. Thank you for your coorporation.
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.
Rasheed Bellamy
Regional Samaúma
Nancy Sophy
About Our Arts in Health Conference Panel
This panel brings 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; and Kahra Buss, Executive Director of Perkins Center for the Arts. Together, they will explore 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 will also look ahead to future opportunities, highlighting how cross-sector partnerships can expand access, deepen impact, and support more holistic approaches to care.
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If not, don’t hesitate to contact us at yacoe@rowan.edu.