Art Is Health Infrastructure: Rethinking Gender-Based Violence Responses for Newcomer Women

Art as Health Infrastructure is the focus of a Canadian TODAY.com series piece examining how the arts can support newcomer women who have survived gender-based domestic violence (GBDV). The article says GBDV remains a significant public health issue in Canada, with reports intensifying during the COVID-19 pandemic, while many survivors remained disconnected from culturally safe mental health support. It highlights the HEAL Project, led by Access Alliance and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, implemented over four years in Toronto. HEAL is described as a 12-session expressive arts intervention for 52 women across six cohorts, delivered with community and health partners. Sessions emphasized co-creation and trauma-informed principles, allowing participants to engage without pressure to disclose abuse details. The program involved Arabic-, Bengali-, Farsi- and Tigrinya-speaking women, 2SLGBTQ+ participants, and those with shelter experience, using childcare, interpreters, transportation help, art kits, and hybrid options. A mixed-methods evaluation reported consistent improvements in emotional regulation, self-efficacy, confidence, and awareness of rights.