ARTFUN RX: The Creative Wellness Experience

January 2024, miami, FL

The ARTFUN RX Creative Wellness Experience – with its focus on  ART + FUN + BODY + MIND – featured an all-star wellness speaker panel focusing on the ways meaningful art can change one’s life both mentally and physically.

Founder, creative director, artist and “professional patient” Shanna Israel led the panel of renowned health experts to highlight tools for evidence-based non-invasive modalities and provide insights from professional sports figures about the athlete mentality. Designed to promote mental wellness through sports, art, and community engagement, the event specifically focused on Miami youth ages 6 to 18.

The speaking panel consisted of well known former pro athletes and medical professionals. The sports stars shared tips on how to apply the athlete mentality to everyday life, and the medical practitioners led immersive how-to lessons with the audience.

The immersive art activation featured hands-on sports-focused ARTFUN RX art therapy projects, including sports-themed wearable art creations and an emotional release splatter- painting session led by former MLS pro Jimmy Conrad.

The art activations were co-created by Miami’s youth participants, including students from the Sports Leadership Arts Management (SLAM) charter school and the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts at Nova Southeastern University (NSU.) Music was provided by 14-year-old Miami Heat regular DJ Marley. These students and young performers are building the foundation of this event with a hands-on approach to inspire peer-to- peer innovation within the community.

The invite-only event took place at SLAM charter school and benefited the SLAM Foundation, both founded byMiami- born rapper, singer and actor Pitbull in 2013. SLAM is a nonprofit educational organization operating tuition-free public charter middle and high schools nationwide.

The event was held to provide Miami's sports fans and families with simple, cost-effective tools for mental and full-body wellness via art and fun.

“We’re elevating lives through ART + FUN + BODY + MIND and Art Basel week was the perfect fit to showcase how art and creative thinking truly changes the human experience for the better,” said Israel.