Creative Force

Hotels and resorts are embracing the power of art classes in their wellness programs

- Stephanie Vermillion

IF HIGH-SCHOOL art class was the last time you picked up a paintbrush, it may be time to start again. Sketching, ceramics, sculpting and weaving are among the many art forms shown to decrease pain, minimize anxiety, build confidence and even help fend off depression.

For decades, the United Kingdom's National Health Service has operated a prescription program for health-care practitioners to refer patients to artist-led workshops. In the U.S., establishments from the Cleveland Clinic to the University of Florida's Center for Arts in Medicine have similarly worked to seed art therapy across the country.

The idea of painting and pottery classes to aid wellness may sound too good to be true, yet even the World Health Organization has jumped on the bandwagon. It cites more than 3,000 studies that delve into the link between arts and health in a report on the topic, noting "arts activities can trigger psychological, physiological, social and behavioral responses" that are linked with positive health outcomes. Some studies even show that art and music can minimize the length of a hospital stay, and potentially reduce the need for narcotic pain medicine.

According to Tara Reddy, founding director of the U.K.-based nonprofit Arts on Prescription, any type of art activity, from knitting and pottery to drawing and writing, offers health benefits. It's all about finding the one that works for you.