Ep. 114 The science behind Arts on Prescription (and why the funding hasn't caught up) with Professor Katherine Boydell

In this episode 114, the Occupational Philosophers chat with the wonderfully curious Professor Katherine Boydell. 

Katherine is an internationally recognised leader in qualitative inquiry and arts-based knowledge translation in mental health and social care with innovative approaches to create knowledge and translate empirical research using arts-based methods, including art installations. 

She is the founder and head of the award-winning Arts-based Knowledge Translation Lab at Black Dog Institute and Director, Knowledge Translation, Maridulu Budyari Gumal – Sydney Partnership for Health Education Research and Enterprise. 

She was appointed as a Fellow of the prestigious Australian Academy of Social Sciences in 2020.

She is Vice-President of the Arts & Health Network of NSW/ACT and is Executive Editor of the Arts & Health journal and Associate Editor of Early Intervention in Psychiatry.

She has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Wollongong, University of Sydney, Rotterdam Arts & Science Lab, Radboud University, and Singapore Art Museum.

She has published over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and books as well as other arts-based outputs such as research-based installations and exhibits and two PhDs. 

Her recent book, Applying Body Mapping in Research: An Arts-Based Method, brings together years of practice using this powerful participatory technique across health and social care settings around the world.

This is some impressive stuff! 

In this episode, they explore a wide range of topics including:

• What sparked Katherine's passion for arts-based research
• The Salon des Refusés: The alternative Archibald Prize exhibition
• Abstract painting, layering, and what lies underneath
• Five grandsons and the joy of childlike curiosity
• What actually counts as evidence in research?
• How Katherine's lab uses art to create AND share knowledge
• ReBloom: An interactive digital installation about self-harm, hope and human connection
• Body mapping: tracing, filling, and telling stories through the body
• Taking research-based art into shopping centres and office lobbies with Dexus
• The Think, Feel, Do framework for measuring impact
• Deep looking and why we need more of it
• Arts on prescription and the therapeutic consequences of engaging with art
• Why the funding still hasn't caught up with the evidence

Chapters 

• 0:00 Opening quote: Embrace Messiness
• 0:26 Intro & Guest Introduction
• 0:44 Introducing Professor Katherine Boydell
• 3:03 Curious Eye: The Salon des Refusés
• 5:05 Dinner Party Round
• 13:15 Arts-Based Research: What Katherine Does
• 17:37 ReBloom: Arts & Self-Harm Research
• 29:48 Body Mapping Explained
• 36:59 Dexus Partnership & Public Installations
• 43:23 Wrap-Up & Rapid Fire Questions
• 48:59 Post-Show Reflections

John and Simon hope you enjoy the show as much as they enjoyed making it. It's the reason they started this show - interesting, cool and creative people who have taken the path less travelled and kicked arse! 

Learn more about Catherine

• Black Dog Institute https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
• Arts-Based Knowledge Translation Lab (overview page) https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/research/
• Sydney Partnership for Health Education Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) https://www.thesphere.com.au/
• Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-boydell-87b3867/ 
• Arts and Health Journal: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/rahe20
• Rebloom Project https://www.uts.edu.au/news/2025/10/rebloom-how-an-art-installation-is-changing-conversations-about-self-harm

Mentions

• Archibald Prize https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/archibald/
• Salon des Refusés https://www.salonrefuses.com.au/ 
• Art Gallery of New South Wales https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/
• Daisy Fancourt The Art Cure https://www.penguin.com.au/books/art-cure-9781529935547https://www.penguin.co.uk/
• World Health Organisation