National arts in health week Nigeria

The Jameel Arts & Health Lab in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) partnered with National Arts in Health Week Nigeria (NAHWN) on its 2nd edition in 2023. NWAHN was founded in 2021 with the support of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health and the United States Consulate, Lagos.

NAHWN was inspired by the passion of artists and health practitioners in Nigeria to create a community where creativity can be fully utilised for health and well-being. The event emphasises the intersections and relevance of the arts, culture and creativity in promoting and supporting physical and mental health and wellbeing. The 2023 edition is part of Healing Arts global campaign by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab and WHO, produced in 2023 in partnership with Open Mind Project.

NAHWN takes place between 8-14 May 2023 virtually and in-person in Lagos, Nigeria, and hosts a week of activities including  workshops, film screenings, exhibitions, performances, installations and  panel discussions and research presentationscovering subjects including ‘Art in mental health spaces in Nigeria’,  ‘Strengthening multi-sector partnerships for art, health and wellbeing in Nigeria’, ‘Music in health engagement’, ‘Arts and brain health’ and ‘Art & inclusion: Autism & sickle cell’.

The inaugural event was chaired in 2022 by Kunle Adewale, a renowned Nigerian international arts in health practitioner and steering committee member of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab.