How Does Art Inspire Mental Health?
A study by Roger S. Ulrich, Ph.D., a behavioral scientist who conducts research on the effects of healthcare facilities on medical outcomes found that patients who looked out of a hospital room to a view went home at least one day sooner than those who looked at a brick wall. In addition, the patients with a view needed fewer doses of pain medication. Research continues to show that individuals with access to views of nature, art, or visual images are less stressed and anxious and more hopeful and optimistic. The healing benefits of nature and art also extend to the artist him/herself, families, and passers-by.
Viewing
Submitted art may be displayed on Embrace Life Council’s social media. Winning art pieces will be featured on our social media and in our 2017–2018 calendar and distributed Nunavut-wide.
Important Dates & Deadlines
May 29, 2017 June 12, 2017: Final date for submissions. All art must arrive at Embrace Life Council’s office by this date in order to be considered for judging.
June 5, 2017: Winners will be announced and prizes awarded.
Details
Artists Invited to Participate
Youth ages 12-19. Prizes will be awarded in two age categories: Ages 12-15 and Ages 16-19. Once submitted, all art becomes the possession of the Embrace Life Council.
Purpose
- To create art that inspires healthy living
- To provide youth with opportunities to explore creativity and create art to help others
Theme
Donate your original art that promotes and inspires healthy living. Entrants must complete the attached Entrant Release Form, which must include an artwork title and inspiration statement, of not more than 150 words, on how the art communicates that message to viewers. We cannot accept art that features a trademarked logo or features individuals other than the artist. Art that does not follow these instructions will be disqualified.
The following are suggested themes. If desired, artists may enter one piece of art for each theme (up to 12 entries per person).
| Health Promotion Theme | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tobacco Reduction | What can people do instead of smoking? What would that look like? |
| Sexual Health | What images would suggest ways to show respect and love for your partner to keep them safe and healthy? |
| Nutrition | Eating healthy foods. What does healthy eating look like? |
| Oral Health | Healthy Smiles. How can we maintain oral health? |
| Safety | Injury Prevention. What does keeping ourselves safe at home and/or on the land look like? |
| Environmental Health | What does healthy land and air look like? How do healthy public spaces look? |
| Physical Activity | What does healthy physical activity look like? |
| Immunization | How can we protect ourselves from illness? How might that look? |
| Substance Use Awareness | What images promote awareness of substance use and abuse? |
| Infection Prevention & TB Awareness | How can we prevent the spread of illness? |
| Mental Health | What does positive mental health look like? How can we support each other to maintain mental health? |
| Healthy Families | Healthy Families. What do healthy families look like? What might they be doing? |
Art Medium
Two-dimensional artwork will be accepted. It may be a painting, drawing, or mixed media creation on canvas or paper. Please do not submit glass or fragile media.
Size & Finishing
Horizontal or vertical art must not be smaller than 8.5” x 11”.
Judging Criteria
- Artist’s interpretation and ability to visually communicate a message of healthy living to the viewer
- Creativity, technical skills and craftsmanship
- Ability to communicate a compelling inspiration statement
Prizes
A panel of 4 judges with expertise in arts and/or healthcare will select winning entries. Winners in each age category will receive gift certificates for a Northern or Co-op store of the entrant’s choice in the following amounts: First prize $300; Second prize $200; Third prize $100; Honourable Mention $50.
Submit Your Entries Directly
If you live in Iqaluit, your entry may be delivered directly to the Embrace Life Council office on the first floor of the W.G. Brown Building. Ensure you include your signed release form.
If you choose to ship by mail, please send all entries (do not fold), including signed release form, to:
Embrace Life Council Art Contest
P.O. Box 2259
Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0
If you have any questions or require more information, please contact us at embracelife@inuusiq.com or 867-975-3233.
Resources
- Embrace Life Council of Nunavut announces its annual Mental Health Week Art Contest. Download PDF
- Embrace Life Council Art Contest Information Form and Release. Download PDF
- ᐃᓵᒃᓯᒪᒋᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᑐᓴᖅᑎᑦᑎᕗᑦ ᐱᔾᔪᑎᖃᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᕐᕋᒍᑕᒪᖅ ᐃᓱᒪᑯᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᖏᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᕈᓯᕐᒥ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᐊᓂᒃ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕐᕕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ. Download PDF
- ᐃᓵᒃᓯᒪᒋᑦ ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒧᑦ ᑲᑐᔾᔨᖃᑎᒌᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᐊᓂᒃ ᓵᓚᒃᓴᕐᕕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᒃ ᖃᐅᔨᑎᑦᑎᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ ᑕᑕᑎᕆᐊᓕᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑐᓂᓯᔭᕐᓂᒃ ᓴᓇᐅᒐᓕᐊᕐᓂᒃ ᓴᑯᐃᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ. Download PDF
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