In the spring of 2026, the Art Education Department of the Iceland Academy of the Arts graduates the first group of master's students from the course arts and welfare

 

Master's in Arts and Welfare is for those interested in developing ways to utilize the arts for the benefit of social and health promotion.

The program is based on a wide range of courses, such as art therapy, community arts, research methods, and workshops, along with field work The program is intended to support individual student interest, which develops its own path through the program and bases its final project on personal professional interest, experience, and vision Through the methods of art and through the collaboration of professionals and different groups of society, the goal is to support civic engagement and social responsibility of students and institutions towards inclusion.

The aim of the master's program is to increase the accessibility and participation of different groups in art-related projects and events. The focus is on developing new ways of interdisciplinary cooperation between institutions, associations and artists in jobs that take place under ever-changing conditions with a diverse group of individuals.

Students attending the program have completed a bachelor's degree in arts or in other subjects; such as health sciences or social sciences and have considerable education or experience in some art form.

The first graduating group of master's students in arts and welfare present their final projects at the graduation event of the art education department of LHÍ on Wednesday, May 20 in LHÍ Stakkahlíð, all welcome.

 

 

Wednesday, May 20 - Masters in Arts and Welfare - Program

10.00-10.25 House opens
10.25.-10.30 The dean/professional director sets an event
10.30.-11.00 Maríanna Eva Dúfa Sævarsdóttir „Stop and smell the flowers“ Slow-watching with young people in vocational rehabilitation at Kjarvalsstaðir
11.00.-11.30 Vigdís Skagfjörður Sigurlínudóttir The Art of Grieving: A Creative Process in Sorrow, From Expression to Meaning
11.30-12.00 Alexía Björg Jóhannesdóttir Stupidity and well-being: The impact of real games on adults
12.00-13.00 Lunch break
13.00-13.30 Ásdís Birna Gylfadóttir Sowing seeds that germinate: The role and potential of art in therapeutic work with adolescents
13.30-14.00 Silja Þórðardóttir Creative health: Art notes as a way to promote health in Iceland
14.00-14.30 Conversation on the value of art and welfare