The “Culture and Health” press conference was held on June 10 in the garden of the Salvator Hospital in Marseille. – © AP-HM
More culture in hospitals in the Paca region. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (Drac), the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, the Paca Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the Public Assistance – Marseille Hospitals (AP-HM) continue to work so that art continues in the health, medico-social and social establishments of the regional territoryl, with a program entitled “Culture and Health” and presented at a press conference on June 10.
10,000 beneficiaries of the cultural program in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region
This “Culture and Health” program was created at the national level in 1999, under the mandate of Jacques Chirac. The Ministries of Culture and Health have carried this ambitious project which continues to last more than 20 years after its creation.
In total, 10,000 beneficiaries were able to follow the “Culture and Health” program set up for humanize care through art. The audiences affected are patients, residents, families, caregivers and professionals.
Flora Bat, head of the pediatric psychiatry service atSalvator hospital in Marseilleemphasizes the importance of this program which targets all hospitalized patients, regardless of their age. However, the pédiatrie and the psychiatry are mainly concerned because stays there are longer.
A new “Culture and Health” agreement signed until 2028 in Paca
The three main regional players in this program have signed a new 2025-2028 objectives agreement. These are 39 projects that have been selected for the year 2026including six worn by the AP-HM. They are developed in the six departments of the Paca region.
The new convention further accentuates the setting up artist residenciesthe cooperation between health and cultural structures and the construction of initiatives over several months in collaboration with the establishments.
The art of the circus to make children dream
Among the selected projects, that of the Chilean artist Pamela Pantoja participates, through her representations, in the escape of hospitalized patients. She developed the theme of the garden in connection with resistance, through a personal staging inspired by the protest movements which marked Santiago in 2019.
The circus artist and performer takes her sonic flight within the walls of the Arthur space of the Salvator Hospital in Marseille. She invites hospitalized children to write their own poem. A very visual representation, mixing aerial movements, balance and reflection on innocence, which particularly touches the audience of the establishment.
This desire to bring dreams and escape into places of care is also supported by other actors in the region. The Marseille association ZimZam, which offers adapted circus workshops, as well as Archaos Pôle national Cirquealso participate in the development of cultural projects in health establishments.
