For this Axis, the creative economy integrates artistic and cultural practices in the health field to improve physical, mental and social well-being. This approach explores various ways of improving individual and community quality of life. It engages in research to better understand how artistic practices influence health.

This synergy between health and artists, researchers and communities enables us to design programs tailored to each individual’s needs. By working together, these players can create innovative solutions for promoting health through arts and culture.

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Romina-Soledad Romay

Romina S. Romay is an Argentine composer, conductor, and pianist, engaged in creative work involving new technologies and frequently addressing themes related to nature, life, and ecology. Initially trained as a pianist, she later pursued advanced studies in musical composition at the Universidad Nacional de las Artes in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

She obtained an international master’s degree in composition and performance of contemporary music at the Conservatoire National de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, with residencies in Estonia, Sweden, and Germany. Subsequently, she completed a doctoral degree in microtonal musical composition based on metadata at the Université Côte d’Azur in Nice, France.

As a research engineer for the XR²C² (Extended Reality Research and Creative Center), she contributes to the realization of artistic residencies, study days, and research projects related to VR, AR, and MR applications.

Alexis Bourret

As a master’s student in sociology at UQAM, Alexis Bourret’s research focuses on culture, artistic experience, and disability. Specifically, he seeks to understand how individuals with disabilities are excluded from “legitimate” cultural institutions. In this regard, he considers whether engaging in a form of art can contribute to better social inclusion for these individuals, particularly by highlighting their unique subjectivity and relationship to culture.

In line with his thesis and reflective thoughts, Alexis Bourret is initiating a research-creation project in dance-theatre with young adults from Autisme sans limites / Autism Without Limits.

As a project in the Arts, Culture, Society and Health 2023 Summer School’s credit-bearing curriculum, students were asked to write about and evaluate the implementation of an intervention aimed at improving the mental, physical and social health of individuals, based on an artistic and/or cultural activity. Among the evaluations submitted by the students, two (2) stood out for their high quality.

Therefore, the CREAT Chair’s Arts and Health Axis committee has offered two (2) students a $3,000 research grant :

Brenda Tapia
Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (Mexico) in 2018; Master’s degree in Design, creation and innovation from the Faculté de l’Aménagement de l’Université de Montréal (in progress).

Tatiana Dessy
PhD candidate in Public Health – Epidemiology Marie-Pierre Dubé Laboratory, Montreal Heart Institute.

The purpose of these grants is to support the two (2) students during the in-depth planning phase of their research project, by providing the financial resources needed to consolidate and concretize their preliminary proposal.