Healthtech Pigeon The role of arts in mental health and wellbeing
Mar 11, 2026
Sarah Ticho, co-director at the XR Health Alliance and creator of Soul Paint, blends anthropology, XR and art to explore wellbeing. She discusses barriers to adopting XR in healthcare. She explains Soul Paint’s VR body-mapping, exhibitions and research. She talks about translating virtual art into real-world care, libraries and community spaces, and early patterns in body-mapped emotions.
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Crisis Unlocks XR Adoption
- Adoption of XR in healthcare depends on willingness to change and available resources.
- Major crises like COVID force rapid adoption by creating urgency and freeing resources for innovation.
Plan For Windows Of Urgency
- To drive adoption, address both willingness to change and capacity to invest across systems.
- Expect major shifts after crises; plan pilots and infrastructure to scale when windows of urgency open.
Arts Are Becoming Core To Wellbeing
- Arts and health are gaining legitimacy as essential to wellbeing, not luxury 'wellness'.
- Funders and practitioners are starting to back community, creativity and belonging as prevention-focused health interventions.
