Art-Based Learning in Palliative Care (RAAK-PRO)
- Partner(s): ArtEZ, Amsterdam UMC, Universiteit Twente, Vrije Universiteit, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Radboud Universiteit, Amsterdam Museum, Museum Jan Cunen, Museum Arnhem, Leren van Kunst, patiëntenverenigingen Living with Hope, SPKS en NFK.
- Financier(s): Regieorgaan SIA RAAK-PRO, additional funding from the consortium partners
- Started in: October 2022
Living with a diagnosis of incurable cancer: for patients in palliative care, this is a harsh daily reality. How can you lead a meaningful life in a seemingly hopeless situation? The consortium Art-Based Learning in Palliative Care (ART-PC), led by ArtEZ professor Jeroen Lutters, receives a prestigious RAAK-PRO grant from Regieorgaan SIA to conduct research on effectiveness of Art-Based learning in palliative care.
The indispensable role of art in anxious days
"The positive influence of art in the last phase of life is really underestimated," Lutters explains. "Art has an important, meaningful role. One who brings art and death together in a dialogue actually asks questions about the very meaning of life," he says. “Thanks to this RAAK-PRO grant for ART-PC and the contributions from the partners, the relationship between art, health care, and meaning-making will hopefully be further underlined and made available in palliative care.” The consortium will receive 700,000 euros from RAAK-PRO. This amount will be increased through additional funding from the consortium partners to a total of one million euros.
The effectiveness of Art-Based Learning
With this grant, the consortium will specifically research the effectiveness of the Art-Based Learning (ABL) as a method for influencing meaning-making processes for patients with incurable cancer. ABL is a teaching method in which the dialogue between the student and the artwork is central, and the viewer learns not so much about as from art. ArtEZ’ professorship Art education as Critical Tactics has previously conducted preliminary research on the effectiveness of ABL within the palliative-care context. This pilot was led by Silvia Russel (artist) and was carried out in close collaboration with Prof. Dr. Hanneke van Laarhoven (oncologist at Amsterdam UMC), Prof. Dr. Gerben Westerhof (psychologist, University of Twente), Dr. Fabiola Camuti (education, ArtEZ) and several universities, hospitals, and museums. The results of this pilot were so promising that a follow-up study was the obvious choice.
The positive impact of art in the last phase of life is really underestimated
Thanks to this RAAK-PRO grant, the consortium will be able to build on this pilot and other existing research. Lutters: "At the end of this trajectory, in 2026, we hope to be able to demonstrate in concrete terms that there is a positive effect of art in the palliative phase. This in turn will pave the way for a more intensive relationship between museums and artists on the one hand, and doctors, therapists, and nurses on the other, in the interest of people in palliative care.
Stay up-to-date
Curious about how the consortium will work over the next four years, and what the findings will be? Then keep an eye on this page for the latest news, events, learning moments and images.
Art-PC in the media
ART-PC has it's fair share of media mentions. However, since all of them are in Dutch, you can check out all the articles and mentions on the Dutch side of this projectpage. Click here to go to the Dutch side.
Extra credit for this special mention of ART-PC on Artist in Residence (in Dutch), a website that inventories and highlights projects at the cutting edge of art and science. The inventory is part of an advisory report that the Academy of Arts and De Jonge Akademie van de Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen (KNAW) are compiling. This advice will advocate (better) recognition and appreciation of collaborations between art and science in the Netherlands.
