Promoting a science for everyone through activities that combine scientific and humanistic culture: this is the mission of IBSA Foundation for scientific research. Driving force of the IBSA Group’s social responsibility activities, the Foundation supports research and is committed to making science accessible to the general public through free events and activities.
Foundations
Visual Arts and Health: the therapeutic power of visual arts at the centre of the fourth edition of IBSA Foundation’s Cultura e Salute (“Culture and Health”) course
THE CULTURA E SALUTE PROJECT: THE UNIVERSITY COURSE
The Cultura e Salute project aims precisely to demonstrate – according to scientific criteria – how arts and culture can be considered truly therapeutic. Among the project’s various activities is a university course, designed and promoted by IBSA Foundation, the Culture Division of the City of Lugano and the Università della Svizzera italiana.
The three previous editions of the course had addressed different topics: the relationship between culture and health (2021), the therapeutic power of music (2022) and the value of words in treatment (2023). This year’s focus was on the benefit of visual arts, with the title Visual Arts and Health.
SEVEN SESSIONS WITH RENOWNED SPEAKERS
The fourth edition of the course took place from October 7 to December 2, 2024, for a total of seven lessons, coordinated by Prof. Enzo Grossi, Culture and Health expert and a member of the Advisory Board of IBSA Foundation, and by Luigi Di Corato, director of the Culture Division of the City of Lugano.
The sessions explored topics such as Visual Thinking techniques, the impact of art on the brain, the therapeutic role of museums, the applications of art therapy and cinema therapy, up to the contribution of art in hospitals. Renowned international speakers and personalities – such as Semir Zeki, founder of neuroaesthetics – offered an innovative perspective, making complex topics accessible to the public and presenting scientific evidence on the impact of arts on human well-being.
“Through the Cultura e Salute project, IBSA Foundation demonstrates how culture and arts can open new perspectives for improving human well-being”, stated Silvia Misiti, Director of IBSA Foundation for scientific research. “This year, the course had a record level participation, with the presence of numerous medical students. Through projects like Cultura e Salute, IBSA Foundation is committed to creating opportunities for cultural exchange, scientific exploration and knowledge dissemination, contributing to the multidisciplinary (scientific and humanistic) education of new generations of doctors and researchers, while simultaneously bringing the broader community closer to the crucial social role of culture. All this starts from a fundamental principle: science and culture are not separate worlds, but complementary tools that can contribute to improving people’s lives”.
