Action and creation at the arts and healthcare interface

Abstract

This article presents the experience of constituting and establishing the Laboratory of Study and Research in Arts, Body and Occupational Therapy and the Artistic Composition and Occupational Therapy Permanent Program of USP, Brazil. To outline a scenario of teaching and researching activities and those involving the community composing a new field of occupational therapy practices focused on the complex demands of the population assisted in this area and on increasing their socio-cultural participation. This group have been done qualitative research conducted through an action-research methodology to build up local awareness of occupational therapy due to the importance of creative actions and clinical and cultural-artistic references. The actions taken have broadened the access of the population assisted to artistic activities and cultural experiences standing for strategies to build life projects, ways of participating in community life, networking and making subjective exchanges, which have resulted in unexpected production of social value.