Arts As a Tool for Community Dialogue on Health Issues

Nyiramukama Diana Kashaka

Faculty of Education, Kampala International University, Uganda

ABSTRACT

The intersection of arts and health provides a transformative approach to community engagement, fostering dialogue on pressing health issues. Through various media, including visual arts, music, drama, and literature, the arts enable communities to communicate complex emotions, challenge stigmas, and explore narratives of health and illness. This paper examines the role of the arts in health communication, drawing on case studies and best practices from interdisciplinary collaborations. It highlights the advantages of using arts to address emotional, cultural, and social aspects of health while acknowledging the challenges inherent in this approach. By examining strategies for implementing successful art-based health initiatives, the paper emphasizes the importance of stakeholder collaboration, flexibility, and community involvement. It concludes by emphasizing the need for continued research and innovation to maximize the potential of the arts as a catalyst for health advocacy and community dialogue.

Keywords: Arts in Health Communication, Community Engagement, Health Advocacy, Creative Expression, Public Health Education.

CITE AS: Nyiramukama Diana Kashaka. (2024). Arts As a Tool for Community Dialogue on Health Issues. Research Output Journal of Education, 4(2):30-33. https://doi.org/10.59298/ROJE/2024/423033