Arts and health: theory

This class had a theoretical focus. Students studied both Parkinson’s disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as explored current quantitative and qualitative research in both of these areas. Experts were brought in from various fields of art and science along with arts practitioners who had developed internationally acclaimed arts programming in the areas of PD and ASD. Students had the opportunity to submit works of art for their response papers.

Arts and health: Practice

The practice segment included site placements where students worked with skilled teachers learning about teaching dance for people with Parkinson’s disease or autism spectrum disorders. The class also included an ethnographic approach to their site placement experience. Design Thinking was embedded into the semester with students pitching solutions to challenges they identified during their site placements for their mid-terms then presenting their final solutions in their final projects.

Students participate in DAPpers, a dance class for people with Parkinson's disease and other movement challenges.

Arts and Autism - a guest lecture and workshop by
Elaine Hall, founder and president of the Miracle Project

From 2013 to 2022 Artists and Scientists as Partners offered these courses in the Brown University Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies. Grounded in neuroscience, anthropology, and the arts, the courses explored holistic healing and the power of dance to treat people with neurological disorders like Parkinson's Disease and Autism. Students studied methodologies of the arts and the natural and social sciences and then applied their learning first-hand in arts-based programs with local partners. ASaP is interested in sharing these courses in a range of settings through the development  of new relationships.