🎨 Holyoke Art Partners with Art Pharmacy to Boost Mental Health Through Creativity

Jeff Bianchine
6 days ago
2 min read

Holyoke Art is proud to join forces with Art Pharmacy, a groundbreaking program that connects patients with creative, non-clinical experiences to support mental and emotional well-being. Through this new partnership, we’re now part of a statewide effort to prescribe the arts—literally—as a form of healing.

Whether it’s flinging paint in our Splatery or participating in a guided art class, these sessions are more than just fun—they’re part of a growing movement to treat anxiety, depression, and isolation through joyful, hands-on expression.

What Is Art Pharmacy?

Launched in 2022, Art Pharmacy is a social prescribing platform that links healthcare providers with cultural organizations to “prescribe” creative experiences. These prescriptions are designed to improve mental health, reduce loneliness, and support chronic disease management—all without medication.

Participants receive access to 12 arts or cultural experiences per year, personalized to their needs and supported by trained care navigators. These navigators stay in touch, track outcomes using standardized wellness tools like the PHQ‑9, and ensure that participants feel welcomed and supported along the way.

A Proven Track Record in Georgia

Before arriving in Massachusetts, Art Pharmacy made major strides in Georgia:

Partnering with Wellstar Health System, Emory, and Grady Hospital, the program helped patients access creative outlets to improve mental well-being and manage conditions like hypertension and chronic stress.
The results? Decreased hospital visits, improved self-reported well-being, and strong engagement with community cultural resources.
Studies show that loneliness and isolation can be as dangerous to your health as smoking or obesity—and creative connection is one powerful antidote.

Now in Massachusetts—and in Holyoke

In 2024, Art Pharmacy launched a statewide network across Massachusetts in partnership with the Mass Cultural Council, Mass General Brigham, and a growing coalition of cultural institutions.

Now, Holyoke Art is proud to be one of those providers—offering sessions that healthcare providers can prescribe directly to their patients. At no cost to participants, these experiences help people re-engage with creativity, community, and joy.

What We’re Offering

At Holyoke Art, eligible participants can receive:

Splatery Paint-Throwing Sessions – A joyful, energetic way to let go of stress, connect with color, and express yourself in the most cathartic way possible.
Small-Group Art Classes – Hands-on workshops for beginners or returning creatives, taught by experienced local artists in an accessible, friendly environment.

These sessions are free to those referred through Art Pharmacy and available year-round.

Who Is This For?

If you or someone you know is struggling with:

Anxiety or depression
Loneliness or isolation
Chronic stress
Recovery from illness or life changes

Ask your doctor or care provider about being referred to Art Pharmacy. If approved, you’ll gain access to 12 creative experiences—including right here at Holyoke Art.

💡 A New Kind of Care

This partnership is more than a program—it’s a shift in how we think about wellness. Holyoke Art believes in the transformative power of creativity, and now, thanks to Art Pharmacy, we’re reaching more people than ever with opportunities to reconnect, recharge, and reimagine what healing can look like.

Want to learn more?