We gathered a large group of partners to jointly organise the first national conference on Arts and Healthcare in Belgium. The aim was to facilitate dialogue between the care and cultural sectors and explore common goals and aspirations that could lead to fruitful collaborations and partnerships. Psychiatrist Dirk De Wachter and art programmer Barbara Raes (Beyond The Spoken) delivered keynote speeches representing the care and art secotrs, respectively. Werner Trio moderated a panel discussion featuring Frie Leysen (KFDA), Piet Van Hecke (M HKA), Geertrui Serneels (Solentra), and Margreet Melmans (Care & Culture, The Netherlands). In the afternoon, participants were offered a choice of workshops and lectures that provided inspiration on how to connect art and (health) care practices.
