ARTKOM

Care contexts

Arts & Health

Artist-led participatory art in conversation with healthcare, care and wellbeing, offered alongside care, not instead of it. This page introduces two current directions: Arts in Balance (NL) and Arts on Prescription.

Healthcare participant engaged in careful mark-making during an artist-led care context session

A shared practice, in dialogue with care

Careful, artist-led work at the intersection of contemporary painting and the wellbeing of people, professionals and communities.

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Small group of healthcare professionals in a guided reflective atelier

Initiative · 01

Arts in Balance (NL)

Arts in Balance (NL) is an initiative through artsinbalans.be, created in collaboration by Ingrid Hofkens, clinical psychologist, and Nicky Myny, painter, participatory artist and founder of ARTKOM Arts & Health.

It offers artist-led creative reflection for doctors, healthcare professionals and care teams.

Explore Arts in Balance (NL)
Careful display of individual visual traces during an artist-led Arts on Prescription process

Initiative · 02

Arts on Prescription

Towards creative participation as part of care and wellbeing in Belgium.

Arts on Prescription is an emerging Arts & Health model connected to social prescribing. ARTKOM advocates for its development in Belgium through careful, referral-friendly pilot ateliers with healthcare, care, cultural and wellbeing partners.

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Why this matters

Care is not only clinical

Care is not only clinical. People working in care, and people receiving care, often need spaces where experience can be expressed in ways that go beyond words alone.

Artist-led participatory art can offer a complementary space for reflection, attention, connection and meaning. It does not replace medical, psychological or therapeutic care. It can, however, contribute to a more human, cultural and creative understanding of wellbeing.

Prepared materials and quiet studio atmosphere supporting attentive creative reflection

The role of the arts in health and wellbeing is increasingly recognised internationally. Explore the evidence and international context →

FAQ

Frequently asked

Is this therapy?
No. ARTKOM is not a healthcare provider and does not offer therapy or treatment. The sessions are artist-led creative experiences that may complement care, wellbeing or prevention contexts.
Do participants need artistic experience?
No. The focus is not on skill, technique or performance. The atelier is non-judgemental and accessible.
Can people come by referral?
Yes. Depending on the project, participants can come by referral, through a partner organisation or by their own initiative.
Is Kunst op Recept already a formal programme?
ARTKOM is open to Arts on Prescription / Kunst op Recept collaborations with healthcare, wellbeing and cultural partners. The exact structure depends on the partner, referral context and funding model.
Can healthcare professionals book this for their team?
Yes. ARTKOM offers artist-led sessions for doctors, caregivers, care teams, professional networks, study days and conferences.
What is the difference between ARTKOM and Nicky Myny?
Nicky Myny is the contemporary painter behind the practice; her paintings, commissions and exhibitions live at nickymyny.com. ARTKOM is her participatory arts practice: artist-led processes and ateliers for organisations, care contexts, communities and individuals. If the outcome you are looking for is a painting, visit nickymyny.com; if it is a participatory experience, you are in the right place.

Interested in Arts & Health within your care context?

Start with a conversation

Whether you are exploring support for healthcare professionals through Arts in Balance (NL), or want to discuss the future of Arts on Prescription in Belgium, ARTKOM welcomes careful conversations with aligned partners.

Nicky Myny in warm conversation with a participant about a potential care collaboration
Explore Arts in Balance (NL)Start a Pilot Conversation