What lies ahead?

Abstract

Abstract My aim with this book was to cover theory, historical perspectives, and research on the role of creative self-expression (mainly visual art) in our lives. To see the value of our innate creative potential and to use our imaginative skills to engage in self-expression is to be able to survive and thrive. Creative materials, strategies, and tools exist to tell our stories in word and image, democratizing creative capacity in the process. Each day is then the start of a new quest, adding learning through experiences to the continuing tale that is our collective and individual human journey. Although there is an emerging and robust body of research on arts and health, much remains to be known. We are entering the new world of art media at the intersection of digital tools and societal transformation. Creative self-expression can help us at the individual level and could also transform communities through the same principles of communication, empathy, and metaphors. New forms of expression and innovative research tools await us in preparing the next generation of creative individuals, arts therapists, and arts and health workers.