The agreement has been announced during the Healing Arts Barcelona event, an international initiative that promotes the use of artistic and cultural practices to improve public health, prevent disease, and foster community wellbeing.
The event has been opened by Dr. Raquel Sánchez del Valle, Medical Director of Hospital Clínic, and Mr. Josep Serra, Director of MNAC. It has also served to introduce “El cor del museu” (“The Heart of the Museum”), an innovative project that combines cardiology and creativity to provide emotional support to people who have survived sudden cardiac arrest. The project has been presented by Dr. Ana García, Head of Cardiology Department at the Clínic, and Ms. Ariadna Martí, Health Mediator at MNAC.
Sudden cardiac arrest: a medical and emotional challenge
Each year in Spain, around 30,000 cases of sudden cardiac arrest are recorded — an unexpected cardiac event in people who appear healthy. While medical advances have allowed some patients to survive without major neurological damage, the emotional and social impact of such an event is significant. Reintegration into daily life, managing fear and anxiety, and regaining wellbeing are challenges that go beyond clinical care.
“The Heart of the Museum”: art as a path to emotional recovery
As part of the agreement between the Clínic and MNAC, the project “The Heart of the Museum” offers a group-based intervention consisting of 12 sessions held at the museum. Participants explore artworks, engage in creative activities, and reflect on their recovery journey.
The sessions address topics such as cardiovascular health, nutrition, movement, emotional management, and gender perspective — all within a setting that promotes calm, introspection, and social connection.
The goal is clear: to improve the emotional and social wellbeing of patients through art, helping them regulate emotions, adhere to treatment, and rebuild their identity after a life-altering experience. To assess the program’s impact, participants have completed simple questionnaires that measure:
- Mood and symptoms such as sadness, fatigue, or sleep difficulties.
- Perceived health and quality of life, including ability to perform daily activities, pain, anxiety, and mobility.
- Social and professional reintegration — how individuals feel part of society again after their experience.
A space to reflect on health, art, and gender
The Healing Arts Barcelona event has also featured a roundtable discussion on the representation of women in art and medicine throughout history, with contributions from Dr. Marta Porta, member of the Clínic’s Clinical Commission on Sex and Gender Perspective in Medicine, and Ms. Ester Benages, educator at MNAC. This reflection aligns with the project’s commitment to an inclusive and gender-sensitive approach to health.
The event has concluded with remarks from Dr. Josep M. Campistol, General Director of Hospital Clínic, who has emphasized the value of culture as a health asset and highlighted the hospital’s “Cultura en Salut” program, aimed at both patients and healthcare professionals.
