As manager of the SaludArte program, I led a collaborative public art initiative at the intersection of health equity, community voice, and creative expression. The 2025 cycle of SaludArte centered on a vital and timely theme: reducing stigma around opioid use and improving positive outcomes for people seeking services. This central theme shaped every aspect of program design, particularly the structure and composition of the community panel.
To ensure the program addressed real needs, the SaludArte Community Panel intentionally included individuals with lived experience of substance use or their friends and family. Their insight grounded the artist selection and guided the design of the artwork. One of the most affirming aspects of this process was that many panelists expressed gratitude for being invited into a space that centered and valued their lived experience.
Ahead of the panel’s first meeting on April 3rd, panelists completed a thorough review of 44 artist applications. Through discussion and consensus-building, they identified three finalists to move forward to the final presentation and interview round.
At the second meeting on April 10th, panelists listened to the presentations from each finalist and had time to ask clarifying questions. By a majority vote, the panel selected Elizabeth Burden, a social practice artist whose decades of experience in the health sector—particularly supporting individuals navigating substance use—deeply resonated with the program’s theme. Her professional background and personal connection to the issues at hand ultimately distinguished her from the other finalists.
Facilitating this process was a powerful reminder of the value of public art when it’s coupled with community engagement. My role involved not only panel facilitation and stakeholder communication but also creating a safe, respectful environment where diverse voices could shape a public art program that with the overarching goal of public health.
Through both iterations of the SaludArte program, I witnessed firsthand that when public art is guided by lived experience and community voices, it can be a transformative tool for social change.
