Building bridges between art, healthcare, and community
OUR PROGRAMS
Grief art workshops, healing conferences, and community programs addressing isolation through creative connection.
HAT COLLECTIVE
Join our artist directory connecting healing artists with healthcare providers and community organizations across Long Island.
EVENTS
View our past healing conferences and community gatherings—
see the power of art and connection in action.
OUR MISSION
As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Healing Art Together harnesses the restorative power of the arts to support all people and communities facing grief, trauma, illness, and social isolation.
Founded in 2024 on Long Island, our organization brings together artists and healthcare professionals through workshops, healing conferences, community programs, and the HAT Collective artist network.
We create welcoming spaces where everyone belongs—regardless of age, ability, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, or economic circumstance.
Through painting, writing, music, movement, and storytelling, we empower people to reclaim their voices, reconnect with others, and transform pain into purpose.
Every brushstroke, word, and note opens a pathway to resilience— sparking hope, strengthening bonds, and reminding us that healing is something we create together.
In honor of Shannan Dyana McCray, whose legacy continues to heal.
Support Our Mission
Get Listed in the HAT Collective (It’s Free)
Create your profile in Long Island’s Healing Arts Directory and get discovered by community partners looking for creative programs, events, and partnerships. All modalities welcome—artists, studios, galleries, and creative spaces.
Get the Free Book|Stay Connected (email opt-in)
When you sign up, you’ll receive The Healing Artist Playbook as a free gift—a practical guide created to help artists use their creative practice to serve their communities.
What’s Inside the Playbook:
✓ Discover your role as a healing artist – understand how your creative practice can support wellbeing and connection
✓ Practical session structures – step-by-step guidance for facilitating your first healing art session
✓ Safety and boundaries – clear guidelines on when to refer participants to clinical support
✓ Getting started resources – actionable ways to begin serving your community without overthinking it
✓ Pricing guidance – how to value your work and establish sustainable practices
As Part of Our Community, You’ll Receive:
- Upcoming events and workshops – opportunities to learn, connect, and grow as a healing artist
- Community initiatives – ways to engage with artists and organizations doing this work
- Curated resources – newsletters and blog posts on art, wellness, healing, and resilience
Healing Art Together brings people together through creativity, shared experience, and meaningful connection. By joining our community, you’ll stay informed about events, resources, and opportunities that support artists who believe creativity is medicine.
Sign up today and receive your free Healing Artist Playbook.
Impact of Art
“The life and essence of art—whether it be painting, music, or dance—lies in expressing through a wellspring of emotion the universal realm of the human spirit. It is a melding of the individual and the universal. That is why great art reaches out beyond ethnic and national barriers to move people all over the world.” Daisaku Ikeda
Why This Matters
Loneliness and disconnection are not just uncomfortable—they’re deadly. The World Health Organization reports that 1 in 6 people worldwide experience loneliness, contributing to nearly 871,000 deaths annually. Social isolation increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, and anxiety. But research shows that social connection is as vital to health as good nutrition and exercise.
This is where art becomes medicine. The arts don’t just enrich lives—they restore wellbeing, build resilience, and help communities thrive.
Combating Loneliness & Building Connection
Loneliness may be widespread, but the arts are a proven antidote. A UK study of nearly 6,000 adults found that 82% feel more socially connected through the arts. Whether painting, drumming, or attending performances, arts participation:
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Creates opportunities to meet new people
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Builds common ground across differences
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Fosters a sense of belonging and shared humanity
On Long Island, we see this daily: seniors forming sisterhoods through dance, teens gaining confidence on stage, and families uniting around mural projects.
Healing Trauma & Restoring Mental Health
Arts engagement is more than expression—it is therapy. Controlled studies show that creative arts therapies significantly reduce PTSD symptoms, with drama, music, dance/movement, and art all offering powerful tools for recovery.
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For children: drawing and calligraphy reduce stress and foster hope.
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For adults: art therapy and music help regulate emotions and ease anxiety.
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For communities: refugees and displaced families use art to reduce stigma and preserve cultural identity.
Healing Art Together brings this science to practice—offering trauma-informed workshops where participants release tension, share stories, and build resilience in safe, supportive spaces.
Featured Articles &Updates
Your Style is Enough
Your creativity is enough—healing begins the moment you trust your own unique way of expressing yourself.
Your Canvas, Your Legacy: How Creating Art Heals Everyone It Touches
Your life is a canvas, and every creative act becomes part of the legacy you leave behind. Art heals twice—once when you create it and again when someone else experiences the humanity in your work. Your creativity doesn’t need perfection; it just needs your heart.
Changing the World Through the Healing Power of Art
This document highlights the transformative power of art in bridging generational divides, fostering empathy, and promoting healing across communities. Through creative collaboration, both young people and those aged 55 and older find common ground, share stories, and experience emotional growth. Art workshops and projects not only nurture individual well-being but also cultivate a vibrant, inclusive tapestry where mentorship, friendship, and belonging flourish.
Collaborate | Contact
Courageous Heart Painting by JLisette
At Healing Art Together, we believe art can rebuild what life’s challenges try to break down. Our mission is simple yet profound:
To bring art’s transformative power into healthcare and communities—through heartfelt collaboration with artists, health professionals, and artists like Janine.
We’re more than a program—we’re a movement of healing, hope, and human connection. Whether in care settings, educational environments, or local communities, our programs create meaningful impact.
✅ Reduced anxiety and depression
✅ Greater emotional expression
✅ Stronger community bonds
✅ A safe, creative outlet for trauma, grief, and recovery
🤝 Why Collaborate With Us
We invite mission-aligned organizations, healthcare institutions, and funders to join us in expanding this powerful work.
Together, we can:
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Expand access to creative healing programs
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Train more artist-educators and facilitators
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Reach underserved communities with art-based wellness
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Build a national model for integrating art into healthcare and emotional recovery
💫 Your support helps us brighten lives and build resilience—one brushstroke, one story, and one heart at a time.
We Are Change Makers
At Healing Art Together, we celebrate the arts as a force for healing and connection. We create inclusive spaces where every voice matters, every story has value, and creativity transforms lives.
Contact us about hosting a program, sponsoring an event, or bringing the arts into your healthcare facility.
Creativity connects. Art heals. Together, we transform.


