Health & Healing
The local arts community not only provides opportunities for self-expression but also contributes positively to regional health. Carving out time for art appreciation and creation can mean improving your mental and physical health too.
The World Health Organization has found that people who engage with the arts are “more likely to lead healthier lives, including eating healthily and staying physically active, irrespective of their socioeconomic status and social capital.” Think of the arts as a therapeutic practice!
Art also has the power to connect people and create space for community. At monca we are happy to host events regularly that bring people of many backgrounds together.
Opening receptions are great opportunities to feel like a part of the monca family. These events celebrate the installation of new exhibitions in the gallery spaces. Opening receptions are always free to the public and offer a bar for refreshments. Often artists whose artwork is on view in the galleries will attend openings.
A monca opening reception is a great way to meet new friends, spend time with loved ones, and support the arts. The joys of visiting monca go beyond momentary fun.
“Engagement with the arts can also lead to greater prosocial behaviours within communities, including volunteering and charitable giving, and can enhance social consciousness,” according to a 2017 study published by the National Institutes of Health titled, The Arts as a Catalyst for Human Prosociality and Cooperation.
When you choose to visit monca, you are choosing community. As a result of participating in the arts, you have the potential to become a more generous and aware individual. The benefits of the arts are self-sustaining.
The feeling of place and serenity that monca harbors is always available to you. We invite you to join us whenever you can to help build community positivity and develop a great appreciation for local arts and artists.
For some, participating in the arts may feel daunting.
Perhaps you were never encouraged to be creative as a youngster or felt like what you created was never quite right. No matter your skill level or confidence in creating art, you can benefit from the process itself.
In an NPR article, “Feeling Artsy? Here's How Making Art Helps Your Brain,” journalist Malaka Gharib speaks with Girija Kaimal, a professor at Drexel University and a researcher in art therapy.
Kaimal and a team of researchers found in a 2016 study that “There were no differences in health outcomes between people who identify as experienced artists and people who don't. So that means that no matter your skill level, you'll be able to feel all the good things that come with making art.”
Next time you doubt yourself, keep in mind no matter the outcome, you will positively benefit from exploring your creativity.
