{"id":11051,"date":"2025-11-25T12:35:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T10:35:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rotterdammakeithappen.nl\/verhalen\/art-and-culture-make-the-city-healthy\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T11:02:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T09:02:08","slug":"art-and-culture-make-the-city-healthy","status":"publish","type":"verhaal","link":"https:\/\/rotterdammakeithappen.nl\/en\/stories\/art-and-culture-make-the-city-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Art and culture make the city healthy"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”954789″]<\/p>\n

Dancing with Parkinson\u2019s, drawing while living with depression, music during surgery \u2014 art is playing an increasingly important role in our healthcare system. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWhen people with Parkinson\u2019s disease dance, their speech and mood improve, and their movements become more fluid,\u201d says Tineke Abma. She has been a professor of Art & Care at Erasmus University Rotterdam for a year now.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is the first academic chair in the Netherlands \u2014 and perhaps even worldwide \u2014 that is entirely dedicated to the impact of art, culture, and creativity on people\u2019s health and well-being,\u201d<\/p>\n

Tineke explains. The position suits her perfectly. \u201cI\u2019ve always been a great lover of the arts. As a girl, I spent all my time drawing. And I was dancing.\u201d<\/p>\n

After completing her nursing degree, she went on to study Health Policy and Management at Erasmus University Rotterdam. In her research on patients with depression and psychosis, she discovered that their experiences can be explored very effectively through photos and drawings.<\/p>\n

Dancing with Parkinson\u2019s<\/h2>\n

The Chair of Art & Care was established through a collaboration between care organization Cordaan, Museum van de Geest, and the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management.<\/p>\n

Tineke also sees how, in Rotterdam\u2014the city she has lived in for forty years\u2014art is increasingly being used in healthcare. \u201cWe are conducting research with Marc Vlemmix. He runs a dance company for people with Parkinson\u2019s, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatism.<\/p>\n

He himself also has Parkinson\u2019s. He rehearses in the Luxor Theater, which during the day offers space to cultural creators from the city. Our research shows that the dancers feel like human beings again rather than patients. By being part of a social group, they feel rooted, seen, and heard once more. They feel that they belong.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″]

Ask people to draw their body, and you\u2019ll get a completely different and much deeper story.<\/blockquote>[vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”207468″]<\/p>\n

Rolemodels<\/h2>\n

The same is true for Mich Simon. As spoken word artist YoungMichPoetry, he creates performances and collaborates with organisations such as the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.<\/p>\n

“He grew up in Rotterdam South and is dedicated to supporting young people dealing with poverty, debt and addiction. These are topics often surrounded by shame. Mitch encourages them to express their experiences through art.”<\/p>\n

He serves as a role model and offers young people opportunities to work at his production house, FLOW.
\n“He has a real mission: to help people from his own community become visible and, when they have talent, to support their journey into cultural institutions.”<\/p>\n

Music as Medicine<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tineke also collaborates with healthcare institutions such as Erasmus MC. She developed an honours class for medical students, enabling them to learn early in their training how to apply art and creativity in their work. A powerful example of this is the Music as Medicine program, developed by surgeons and anesthesiologists at Erasmus MC.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest issues faced by people undergoing surgery are pain, anxiety, and stress. For ten years now, they have been conducting research in which patients listen to music during and after their operations. And they see that it works: patients experience less pain, less stress, less anxiety, and they sleep better. Satisfaction with the hospital stay increases. Moreover, they are discharged more quickly \u2014 and that, of course, also reduces costs.\u201d[\/vc_column_text]

Investing in arts in healthcare is highly cost-effective.<\/blockquote>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”181649″]<\/p>\n

Scientific foundation<\/h2>\n

This is exactly the kind of approach that should resonate with healthcare leaders and policymakers. Through the scientific foundation of the Chair of Arts & Care, Tineke is able to reach these audiences.<\/p>\n

“Research conducted at healthcare organisation Cordaan shows that every euro invested in arts and culture generates \u20ac3.50 in social return.<\/p>\n

This includes improvements in quality of life, greater job satisfaction among healthcare professionals, and reduced costs for both healthcare insurers and municipalities. From an economic perspective, investing in arts in healthcare is highly effective.”<\/p>\n

Manchester<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With that perspective in mind, it\u2019s no surprise that Tineke, together with Said Kasmi, Rotterdam\u2019s alderman for Education, Culture and Events, visited Manchester to explore the Creative Health programme. \u201cManchester is a city much like Rotterdam \u2014 historically a port and industrial city, with a relatively low-income population. We know that health is strongly influenced by social factors. With Creative Health, they have connected art and culture with prevention and healthcare, and developed joint policies on how to help Manchester\u2019s residents become healthier \u2014 and stay healthy \u2014 through the use of arts and culture. And the results are promising.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″]

Introduce them to capoeira, dance and drumming. Let them experience how these activities can help them feel calmer, less stressed and happier.<\/blockquote>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”449513″]According to Tineke, Rotterdam should make much greater use of arts and culture as a way to improve public health.<\/p>\n

“Soon, we will host a large town hall meeting that brings together all stakeholders in the city\u2014including healthcare insurers, the municipality, healthcare providers, cultural organisations, residents and people with lived experience\u2014to take the next steps together.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arts in Everyday Life<\/h2>\n

According to Tineke, socially engaged arts initiatives across the city\u2014such as Marc Vlemmix Dance Company and YMP\u2014should be strengthened so they can reach even more people.<\/p>\n

She also believes arts education for children deserves greater attention, as not every child grows up with access to culture.<\/p>\n

In Tineke’s view, art used to be much more integrated into everyday life\u2014and that is something society should rediscover.
\n“People sometimes need to overcome a threshold. But once they do, there’s no stopping them. They inspire others to join in and want to keep going. That’s something truly beautiful.”[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fotographics: Rosan Chinnoe and Fenna Schaap.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image media=”11049″ media_width_percent=”100″ uncode_shortcode_id=”178380″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image media=”11052″ media_width_percent=”100″ uncode_shortcode_id=”183534”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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