Imagine. Make. Play. Thrive.
Join #352Creates March 24-25 to create a healthy community
It’s time for 352Creates! You’re invited to join in two days of participatory art-making March 24-25, throughout our 352 area code.
“Pop-up”-style art activities will promote health and community engagement in unexpected ways and locations. In its second year, 352Creates demonstrates that creativity can be fun for everyone — a mission of presenting partners UF Health, UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine, Arts in Medicine Programs at UF and the city of Gainesville.
Last year, 352Creates participants used sidewalk chalk to create art outside the UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital.
Mindy Miller
“We welcome opportunities to engage our communities in health-promoting activities that improve quality of life. 352Creates allows us to work with local partners to bring healing, interactive arts to people throughout North Central Florida,” said Thomas A. Pearson, M.D., Ph.D., UF Health executive vice president for research and education. Last year, Pearson led a free cookie-decorating activity using his family’s almond cookie recipe.
“At UF Health, we see the power of spontaneous and unexpected creativity every day,” said Tina Mullen, UF Health Shands AIM director. “Our artists engage all kinds of people whose lives have been interrupted by injury or illness. What we witness is that everyone’s inherent capacity to create is the single most powerful tool we have to restore our own sense of well-being.”
Get involved and host hands-on activity for your colleagues on Friday, March 24. Saturday activities will be free and open to the public. Visit 352Creates.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram — look for the hashtag #352Creates.
“What I love and admire about 352Creates is how it seeks to inspire people to enjoy, appreciate and become a part of making art, whatever their background or profession,” said UF President Kent Fuchs. “This is a great way of encouraging everyone to learn about and become involved in the arts, helping to ensure that our university community continues to blossom as a place with rich and diverse educational and cultural opportunities.”
Create in Place
Friday, March 24
Local cultural groups, artists, community agencies and businesses can encourage creativity at home and in the workplace. Here at UF Health, see if your team can take 10 minutes to enjoy a hands-on creative project to recharge your creative spark and spirit.
Community Create
Saturday, March 25
We’re looking for individuals or groups to host free creative activities that are open to the public, regardless of creative experience or skill. The activities can include hands-on art-making, performance, culinary arts, gardening and contemplative arts.
Activities can be as simple as gathering friends or co-workers to create “coffee cup mandalas.” Host a sing-along, a poetry reading or sidewalk chalk contest and see your inner artist come to life! In the process, you’ll have fun, make personal connections, reduce stress and increase your well-being. And, you’ll contribute to the excellent quality of life that makes the 352 region so unique.
