Convergence Expo: Where Art, Health, and Community Meet

Health is more than medical care—it’s shaped by where we live, work, and connect. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that social and environmental factors, known as Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), influence up to 50% of health outcomes. These include economic stability, education, healthcare access, social connections, and the built environment. Addressing these factors is key to improving community well-being.

Join Us for the Convergence Expo

April 26, 2025 | 12 - 5 PM | Plains Art Museum
This groundbreaking event brings together leaders in art, healthcare, and community work to explore how creativity can shape individual and collective well-being.

Featured National Speakers

Elysian Koglmeier – Artwork Archive (Denver) | Board Treasurer for the National Organization for Arts in Health
Katie Lee – Assistant Curator, Penn Medicine & Philadelphia Museum of Art

Featured Local & Regional Panelists

Erin Shapiro – Director | CEO, Plains Art Museum
Dr. Kasey Johnson – Resident Psychiatrist, UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences
Anne Labovitz – Researcher, International Artist, Founder, I Love You Institute
Dallas Tufty – FirstLink
Alicia Hauff – Independent Artist, Former Nurse, Plains Board Member
Siri Thaden – Accreditation Manager, Sanford Health

Experience the Convergence Expo

This is an interactive, community-driven event where attendees can:

Join guided tours using Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) to explore art in new ways.
Enjoy local flavors from Maria’s Homestyle and other featured vendors.
Connect with over 15 nonprofits offering resources on health and wellness.
Experience Vanna Adventure Vans' Mobile Medical Unit onsite.
Participate in Therapeutic Art Facilitation sessions led by Maia Kim.
Engage with hands-on creative activities sponsored by Unglued Market.

Why Art? Why Now?

The growing Arts in Health movement shows that creative engagement reduces stress, improves mental functioning, and fosters social connections. A 2019 WHO study that reviewed over 900 scientific publications confirmed that the arts positively impact mental health, chronic illness, and social isolation—all pressing concerns for communities with limited access to healthcare.

Inspired by Anne Labovitz’s exhibition, Convergence: Health & Creativity, the Convergence Expo builds on Plains Art Museum’s commitment to integrating art and well-being.

Be Part of the Effort

Whether you’re a community member, artist, healthcare provider, or advocate for well-being, the Convergence Expo is an opportunity to re-imagine how museums and creative spaces can contribute to public health.

Please join us! Your presence is key to making the arts a healing force for health, wellness, and innovation.

Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges. This project is supported in part by a grant from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

2025 Convergence Expo

Explore the Transformative Intersections of Art, Health, and Community.