An innovative, two-day workshop that brings artists, health care professionals and the community together to explore how creative activities can benefit health and quality of life will take place at Cleveland State University on Friday and Saturday, May 16-17.

The conference, titled “Design a Life: A Community of Ideas,” will be held in CSU’s Main Classroom Building, 1899 East 22nd Street. The May 16 session runs from 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; the May 17 session is from 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. The $150 fee includes the conference, breakfast and lunch, evening reception on Friday, parking and all supplies. Continuing education credits are available.

The conference brings together many of Cleveland’s renowned health care, art and education organizations, presenting more than 40 hands-on workshops that provide insight on how creative activities can influence physical and mental well-being. Attendees will choose among workshops on digital animation, music, gardening, jewelry, journaling, mask making, watercolors, metal work, pottery, acting and more.

In addition, panels of health care providers and creative artists will discuss how to use creative activities when providing care to promote wellness and heal dysfunction and illness.

“A growing body of research emphasizes the link between health, well-being and engagement in meaningful creative activities,” said Bette Bonder, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Science. “Such activities allow people to maintain their identities, enhance self-esteem, manage stress and regain strength and mobility after disabling illness.”

The keynote speaker on Friday is Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ph.D., professor at The Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. He is the world’s leading expert on positive psychology and the author of Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.

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