26isfam078 10.3205/26isfam078 urn:nbn:de:0183-26isfam0787 Meeting Abstract Volonts Volonts Julia J

Art Therapy Lab Notre Dame of Maryland University

author German Medical Science GMS Publishing House

Düsseldorf

610 20260612 engl This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung). M0652 078 International Society for Arts and Medicine The Healing Arts – Forging Alliances of Arts & Medicine Presentation Abstracts Berlin 20260618 20260620 26isfam078 TextThe Art Therapy Lab International Residency was a pilot program designed to connect art and mental health professions through eco-art therapy, contemporary art, and movement practices. This initiative explored how interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural exchange, and engagement with nature can foster resilience, creativity, and expand understandings of art therapy. The residency took place in partnership with a community art space in Kuldi¯ga, Latvia, which is dedicated to supporting contemporary art, research, and education.The 2024 residency cohort included art educators, therapists, artists, and arts-in-health professionals from Belgium, Finland, the United States, Latvia, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Central to the program was the collaboration between an art therapist, independent curator, arts-in-health researcher, and performance artist. The program facilitated an experience that integrated somatic movement, mindfulness, and environmental awareness, where participants' connected to the body, creative process, and natural world.The outcomes of this program demonstrated the potential of interdisciplinary collaboration, eco-therapy, and cross-cultural engagement in art therapy practice. Participants reported an increase in artistic confidence, deeper connections to their environments, and a greater sense of professional purpose. Additionally, discussions that emerged during the residency led to ongoing collaborations and knowledge exchanges, contributing to an intersection of practitioners interested in the connection between art, mental health, and community practice.Reflecting on the development, implementation, and impact of the residency, this paper highlights key considerations for designing similar international initiatives. These include ethics in international art therapy collaborations, effective cross-cultural communication, and the role of professional identity in interdisciplinary work. 0 0 0 0