The field of arts in health has been compelled to re-imagine what practices look like. We find ourselves reconnecting with our communities amidst new protocols, policies, and approaches. We continue to expand into AND beyond traditional healthcare facilities into an evolving ecosystem of health and healthcare as we integrate holistic, preventative and innovative practices for individual and community health.

• How do we continue to adapt as we focus not just on healing and recovery, but on health and wellbeing in a variety of environments?
• What solutions can we offer as we explore community and public health?
• How do we invite, include, and learn from the next generation and other new and existing communities who are doing arts in health work?  
• How do we continue to care for our vital caregivers?
• What are some positive outcomes of the last few years, and how can we apply those to our work today?
• What new programming models are emerging? Where are they taking place and who is leading them?
• How are our practices expanding and what new issues/situations are being addressed?

Arts in health is composed of many voices and needs to include even more. This focus area prioritizes and elevates the voices once minoritized, but now with heightened appreciation for their critical value in guiding the future of the field. As arts in health continues to grow, imagine and implement equitable professionalization, we welcome opportunities to showcase practice, methodologies, frameworks, research, advocacy, activism, education and policy that demonstrate fuller cultural understanding and reflection on how our systems must evolve.

• How can arts in health assure more empowered representation of diverse voices?
• What bases of knowledge and perspective help to present a fuller understanding of what arts in health is and can be?
• How do equity, justice and liberation intersect with arts in health?
• What role should arts in health professionals utilize in advancing health equity?
• How can cultural humility in the work/field today continue to be developed?  What barriers need to be overcome?
• How do we ensure standards of practice and also account for humility, humanity, and open-mindedness?
• What kind of research is supporting the growth and expansion of the field?
• What kind of research is challenging the status quo of the field?
• How do we reimagine our collective learning by incorporating different ways of knowing?
• As we strive to decolonize and grow in cultural understanding, what barriers do we need to overcome?
• How are people in the field creating impact on diversity, inclusion, and accessibility

NOAH is looking forward to welcoming you to our 2022 in person conference.  While we are excited to gather in person the health and safety of all attendees and participants is a priority.  With COVID-19 continuing to evolve NOAH will follow the guidelines as issued by the Center for Disease Control, State of Maryland, City of Baltimore and the event venues at the time of the conference.  COVID-19 conditions can change quickly and NOAH will continue to monitor conditions and protocols.  NOAH will update guidelines as needed and will share updated information on the NOAH website and through emails as we approach the conference dates.  In order to make the NOAH Conference as safe as possible we are instituting the following guidelines at this time; all guidelines are subject to change at any time:

• Attendees must be fully vaccinated to attend the NOAH Conference and must confirm vaccination status at registration.
  • Vaccination must be from the list of approved Food and Drug Administration or World Health Organization vaccines: approved vaccines can be found here https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/agency/who/
  • Attendees should be prepared to provide proof of vaccination status upon check in at the conference. Proof of vaccination can be provided by presenting a vaccination card or digital vaccination card.
  • Per the CDC “fully vaccinated” is defined two weeks after having received all recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, two doses in a two dose series or one dose of a single dose series.
  • NOAH strongly recommends that attendees receive booster doses when eligible.
• Face coverings are required at all times except when actively eating and drinking in designated areas or when presenting. Please note that the American Visionary Art Museum has a mask requirement for both museum visitors and event attendees. N95 or KN95 masks are preferred.
• Frequent hand washing is encouraged, use hand sanitizer when hand washing is not possible.
• Consider taking a COVID-19 test prior to traveling or arriving in town and only attend if your test is negative.
• Complete the NOAH COVID-19 exposure screening questions prior to arriving at the conference. NOAH will share screening questions as we approach the conference.
• If you are not feeling well, please stay home. Contact NOAH if your plans change due to COVID-19. (link to contact info)

Remember any public gathering increases the risk of exposure to COVID-19.  Attendees participate in the NOAH Conference at their own risk.  Additional information from the CDC on protecting yourself and others can be found here.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fdaily-life-coping%2Findex.html

“Presentation content was very applicable to my current position. Presenters were excellent and the conference offered a wide variety of topics for development.”

“I always enjoy the keynote speakers and art-making/learning new art activities.”

“I appreciated the ability to chat and connect for MUCH needed networking, as paid work is very needed. The warmth of the leadership and openness to everyone was strong —thank you for this, everyone.”

“I really liked the networking breakouts. I met so many wonderful professionals and the prompts helped us engage - no awkwardness.”

“[I enjoyed] the options/topics of sessions; there was something for everyone.”

“All of the presenters - I plan to watch many of these again along with the ones that I was not able to attend. The hands on art breaks were wonderful.”