International symposium: ‘The Art of Caring: Arts, Humanities and Innovative Teaching Methods in Healthcare Education’

• Dates: Thursday 19 and Friday 20 November 2026
• Venue: Hauts-de-France Polytechnic University, Tertiales campus
• Audience: open to students and healthcare professionals
• Organiser: Hauts-de-France Polytechnic University, as part of a project supported by the European Social Fund+ (ESF+)+
• In partnership with: the Valenciennes Institute of Healthcare Training, the Cambrai Institute of Nursing Training and the Maubeuge Institute of Nursing Training

Care professions require constant development of training programmes. Whilst pedagogical innovation has largely focused on the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and technical skills, the development of interpersonal, ethical and reflective skills remains a major focus of research into healthcare pedagogy.

The conference therefore examines the contributions of pedagogy through artistic expression to training programmes for the care professions. In what ways are artistic practices (visual arts, writing, theatre, dance, music, creative mediation, etc.) effective tools for developing professional interpersonal skills? Do they facilitate the long-term integration of skills such as professional demeanour, empathy, communication and self-reflection?

The papers also examine the assessment of this learning: what tools, indicators or methodologies can be used to measure the acquisition of these so-called ‘cross-cutting’ skills? With what results, what limitations, and under what conditions are these approaches transferable?

1. To provide an overview of research into the relationship between art, culture and health education.
2. To analyse specific initiatives incorporating artistic practices, drawing on feedback that combines educational, artistic and professional perspectives.
3. Examine the assessment of interpersonal skills and soft skills.
4. To facilitate collaboration between cultural practitioners, training institutions and healthcare settings.
5. Place these experiments in the context of institutional developments, particularly reforms to nursing training programmes.

• Priority Area 1: a renewed approach to existential distress in healthcare, incorporating the emotional, relational and cultural dimensions of care
• Theme 2: the contributions of artistic practices to the development and transformation of professional attitudes
• Axis 3: innovative educational initiatives involving artists, patients, healthcare professionals and cultural institutions
• Axis 4 : interdisciplinary research and evaluation models, combining health sciences, humanities and research-creation
• Priority Area 5: European partnership dynamics, illustrating concrete forms of sustainable integration of the arts into education and healthcare systems

Thursday 19 November 2026

Friday 10 November 2026

• Opening of the conference

Elisabeth Gondy · Regional Councillor for Hauts-de-France, member of the Outreach Committee (culture, sport, youth, communication, international relations, tourism), and Executive Councillor for Valenciennes Métropole. Committed to regional policies supporting higher education, research and innovation, she is involved in the development of strategic projects for the benefit of local areas. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Franck Barbier · Deputy Vice-President in charge of the health sector, Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France. A university professor in Sports Science and Physical Education (STAPS), he conducts research at LAMIH (CNRS UMR 8201) on biomechanics and three-dimensional analysis of human movement. He helps to strengthen the links between education, research and innovation for the benefit of future healthcare professionals. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

• Theme 1 · Existential distress in healthcare

Olivier Beauchet · Geriatrician and neurologist, full professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal (IUGM). Scientific Director of the Quebec Observatory on Informal Care and co-holder of the CREAT Research Chair (FRQSC) for the Arts and Health research area, he studies the relationships between the arts, culture and mental, physical and social health. He will also deliver the closing address at the symposium. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Simon Chioini · Composer and sound artist, Montreal. Trained at the Montreal Conservatory of Music, he works at the intersection of electroacoustic music, electronic culture and audiovisual performance. A PhD student at the University of Montreal (sound ecology and perception), he is also artistic director and co-founder of organisations dedicated to the promotion of contemporary music. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Kevin Galéry · Deputy Director of the AgeTeQ laboratory (IUGM), head of the Arts, Culture and Health research area. [Biography to be completed] LinkedIn: [link to be added]

• Research Area 2 · Artistic Practices and Professional Approaches

Pauline Chazelas · Associate Professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Limoges Faculty of Medicine (NeurIT unit). A specialist in peripheral neuropathies and rare neurogenetic disorders, she will be presenting the ‘Medi’Talks’ initiative, an experimental programme focusing on the use of voice and body language, as well as stress management, in medical training. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Charlotte Gagnon · Head of the Social Action and Education Department, Opéra de Montréal. A mezzo-soprano and visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Music, Université de Montréal, she develops projects exploring the potential of opera for health and wellbeing, and studies the effects of singing and breathing on quality of life. Co-founder and Artistic Director of Rigoletta, dedicated to creating operas for young audiences. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Dorothée Deltombe · Project Manager, Le Phénix, Valenciennes National Theatre. She leads projects combining artistic creation, the local area and health, and is developing the ‘Les Remèdes de l’âme’ programme in partnership with the Valenciennes Hospital: artist residencies, workshops, concerts and performances within hospital wards. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

• Axis 3 · Innovative teaching methods

Pauline Bouchet · Senior Lecturer in Theatre Studies, Université Grenoble Alpes; Head of the interdisciplinary Arts and Health programme; Co-Head of the Chair in Humanities in Health (CHU-UGA). She organises simulated consultations bringing together arts students and future doctors, theatre workshops in healthcare settings, and seminars on narrative medicine. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Nicolas Vonarx · Full Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Laval University (Quebec). A trained nurse and holder of a PhD in anthropology, he researches the lived experience of illness, the humanisation of care and the psychological distress of healthcare workers. His presentation: ‘From cinema to the nursing curriculum in Quebec: a look back at the educational virtues and functions of the seventh art’. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Emma June Huebner · Assistant Professor in Visual and Media Arts Education, Faculty of Education, Université de Montréal. Her research focuses on digital creativity, educational artistic practices and the integration of the arts into learning environments. As an artist and curator, she is interested in how artistic experience promotes well-being and community engagement. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Theme 4 · Interdisciplinary research and evaluation models

David Hockham · Professor, Associate Head of School – Student Success, University of Greenwich (School of Design and Creative Industries). A researcher and artistic practitioner, producer and co-director of the Dead Rabbits Theatre company, he works at the intersection of education, performance and social engagement. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Jim Ang · Professor of Human-Computer Interaction, University of Kent and Kent and Medway Medical School (United Kingdom). His research focuses on digital technologies applied to healthcare: artificial intelligence, virtual reality, empathetic conversational agents, virtual patients and immersive environments for training and care. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Oliver Mag. Gingrich · Associate Professor in Digital Arts, Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Animation programme, University of Greenwich (UK). An artist, researcher and curator, he explores participatory artistic practices, the sense of presence, wellbeing and mental health through the use of immersive technologies, mixed reality and artificial intelligence. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Theme 5 · European partnership dynamics

Marjorie Ranieri · UNIC CityLabs Coordinator, University of Liège; researcher in urban art. A PhD student at the University of Mons (Arts and Techniques of Representation) and a cultural journalist, she works on participatory artistic practices in urban spaces. She has curated several contemporary art projects, including the travelling exhibition *Le Bruit de la Couleur*. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Simona De Rosa · Partner and Senior Researcher, T6 Ecosystems (Rome). A specialist in policy analysis, innovation ecosystems and the impact of research, she has been involved in more than ten European projects since 2015 (FP7, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe), notably in connection with the S+T+ARTS (Science + Technology + Arts) initiative. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Veronika Liebl · Director of European Cooperation and Managing Director of the Festival, Prizes and Exhibitions department at Ars Electronica (Linz, Austria). She has been working there since 2011 and leads collaborative European projects, including the STARTS Prize and the European ARTificial Intelligence Lab. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

Perspectives and summary

Sandra Coecke · Scientist at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), ‘Digital Unit’. Involved in the EU’s digital and innovation programmes (Horizon Europe, Digital Europe), she champions an ethical and human-centred vision of digital technologies and works on interdisciplinary approaches spanning health, digital technology and sustainable innovation. LinkedIn: [link to be added]

The summary and conclusion of the symposium will be presented by Professor Olivier Beauchet.