[e-drive][OPEN HOUSE TOMORROW: ARTISTS HEALTH CENTRE, TORONTO]

[Patricia Joyce]

~~~~~~~~~ e-drive ~~~~~~~~~~

The Al and Malka Green Artists' Health Centre
Announcing the November 6th Launch!

A long awaited dream becomes reality!  The Al and Malka Green Artists'
Health Centre (AHC) will open its doors November 6th within the Healthy
Connections Program at the Toronto Western Hospital.  Designed by
artists in collaboration with medical and complementary practitioners,
as well as other professionals, the Centre is designed to provide an
innovative, integrated, inter-disciplinary approach to service and
delivery.  

The Centre will serve both creative and performing artists, providing a
combination of complementary/alternative and conventional healthcare
service.  The Centre's mandate will also include research, education,
and outreach to the arts community in one location.    

Specialized expertise will focus on the specific healthcare needs of
artists with a view to providing a holistic approach to health within an
evidence-based framework.  The knowledge acquired through the AHC will
not only benefit artists in the Greater Toronto Area, but also those
across Canada and internationally through e-health communications and
research.

The Artists' Health Centre Foundation, established to develop the Centre
and provide fundraising, research, education and outreach to the arts
community will continue to work closely with the AHC to provide
seminars, workshops and lectures on a variety of topics.  Watch for the
launch of our website coming this fall at: www.ahcf.ca!
Come to the AHCF open house
Wednesday, November 6th
10 am - 2 pm

The Al & Malka Green Artists' Health Centre is designed to offer
complementary/alternative and conventional healthcare services
including:

Acupuncture	
Alexander Technique
Feldenkreis
Chiropractic
Emotional/psychological health services
Pilates
Shiatsu
Physiotherapy
Nutritional counseling
Naturopathy
Massage Therapy
Family practice and medical specialties

Open House
November 6, 2002
10am-2pm

Al & Malka Green Artists' Health Centre
Toronto Western Hospital, 3rd Floor, West Wing
University Health Network
399 Bathurst St., Toronto

Artists' Health Centre Foundation
416-351-0239

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A Brief History

Seven years ago, a group of artists came together at the request of
Joysanne Sidimus of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre (DTRC) to
investigate the possibility of creating a specialized healthcare
facility for creative and performing artists.  The impetus for the
project was a unanimous frustration with the cost and lack of
appropriate healthcare for artists.  The problems - some strictly health
related, some socio-economic, some psychological and all related to the
practice and creation of art - demanded a unique, integrated approach.
A Steering Committee of artists,  was formed as well as a Board of
Directors and in   1997, the Artists' Health Centre 

Foundation was incorporated as a charitable foundation to support the
creation of the Artists' Health Centre.  The structure of the foundation
echoes the grassroots make-up of the original working committees by
encouraging the participation of artists from diverse disciplines, some
of whom serve on the Board, together with volunteers from other
disciplines.  

In 1995, an extensive Needs Assessment survey was conducted in the
Toronto area concerning the healthcare needs of artists. In addition,
research was done on other known clinics including centres in San
Francisco, London, The Hague and New York.  The information gathered
confirmed the needs for an integration of traditional and
complementary/alternative modalities, research in the field of arts
healthcare and subsidies for healthcare.  The original committee set
goals and its members have never looked back.  There have been ups and
downs. A deal was struck with Wellesley Hospital, but it was closed in
the restructuring of Ontario's hospitals.  Fortunately, however, the
project was referred to Dr. Philip Ellison, Family Physician-in-Chief
for Community Medicine at Toronto Western Hospital and Medical Director
for Community and Population Health of the University Health Network,
who enthusiastically took it on.

The AHCF has remained active throughout. It organized two seminars (one
for artists, and one for practitioners) to exchange information. The
foundation is planning more seminars and several subcommittees of the
Board and steering committee have been struck to  tackle issues of
hiring alternative health practitioners, fundraising, clinic design,
community outreach and other initiatives.  

Over the years  dozens of artists, practitioners, medical, legal and
business professionals have served on various AHCF committees and the
Board. They have contributed thousands of hours, volunteering their
expertise in seeing the realization of this project. Their efforts and
the continued involvement of the AHCF will serve the arts community well
and continue to grow and change reflecting the needs of all artists.