Oceanside Museum of Art Joins Art Pharmacy’s Network

New San Diego pilot program links healthcare providers with cultural institutions to connect patients with the preventative and therapeutic benefits of the arts

Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) has joined the growing network of San Diego cultural institutions partnering with Art Pharmacy to deliver innovative arts-based “social prescriptions” to patients of San Ysidro Health in order to support adolescent mental health and well-being. This effort dovetails with OMA’s own art-for-wellness efforts, including aligning key themes like leaning into joy and community, finding moments of respite and well-being, and showcasing art that inspires awe in its exhibitions lineup, as well as the Museum’s recent launch of an Art & Wellness Guide as a tool for visitors looking to experience a deeper connection to the exhibitions and the OMA environment.

Through the unique partnership model with Art Pharmacy, San Ysidro Health providers can refer patients, particularly youth experiencing behavioral health concerns, to Art Pharmacy’s Care Navigator, who matches them with tailored arts and culture experiences at partners like OMA, including museum admission and hands-on art workshops at the Museum.

Featuring a robust calendar of contemporary art exhibitions, programming, youth arts education, special events and more, OMA maintains a vision of a community transformed by art. This partnership will further enhance that impact. In fact, all visitors to OMA, including patients referred through Art Pharmacy, can pick up their very own Art & Wellness Guide at the front desk that features mini mindfulness activities, tips on how art supports emotional well-being, tips for enjoying a restorative Museum visit, and other resources.

“We believe in the transformational power of art, and we’re proud to be part of an initiative that sees its therapeutic benefits,” said Maria Mingalone, Executive Director of Oceanside Museum of Art. “Partnering with Art Pharmacy is an exciting step towards widespread recognition of the arts as a vital component of healing, and we’re honored to welcome San Ysidro Health’s patients into the OMA community.”

Art Pharmacy is a national leader in social prescribing – the practice of healthcare providers prescribing non-clinical, community-based experiences such as arts, movement, and nature to address mental health challenges and reduce social isolation. This first-of-its-kind pilot partnership with San Ysidro Health in San Diego County focuses on supporting adolescent mental health, with OMA and several other institutions across the county providing safe, creative, and culturally enriching spaces for connection and healing.

As noted in the New York Times Best Seller, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, “Today, the arts are being used in at least six distinct ways to heal the body: as preventive medicine; as symptom relief for everyday health issues; as a treatment or intervention for illness, developmental issues, and accidents; as psychological support; as a toll for successfully living with chronic issues; and at the end of life to provide solace and meaning.”

The initiative is made possible through the Arts & Intersections Collaborative, a Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties initiative exploring how the arts can intersect with health, education, and workforce development to address complex social challenges. The work to offer social prescription through Art Pharmacy is collaboratively supported by the Clare Rose Foundation, the Prebys Foundation, University of California San Diego, the Latatorre Foundation, Avila Fund, the Parker Foundation, and the Tippet Foundation.

To learn more about Art Pharmacy, visit www.artpharmacy.co.