Artscape and WHO Highlight the Power of Movement for Emotional Well-being

This summer saw the conclusion of the “Awakening Creativity” project, implemented by the arts agency “Artscape” in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Lithuania. The project aimed to improve psychosocial health through artistic practices and discussions on the importance of these approaches.

As part of the Creative Missions program, this project was designed for women from diverse cultural backgrounds, with a special focus this year on Ukrainian women living in Lithuania. Throughout the project, “Artscape” educators—dance-movement therapist Ugnė Sasnauskaitė and choreographer Indrė Ginkevičiūtė (Indrė GIN)—led movement activities over a three-month period to support emotional well-being. The initiative also paid special attention to young Ukrainians who have been separated from their parents due to the war and are now residing in Lithuania.

A Psychosocial Approach

Caring for mental health and providing psychosocial support are essential components of crisis response. In such situations, psychosocial support is crucial because everyone is affected in some way. People experience psychological and emotional challenges, making it vital to maintain interpersonal connections. This holistic approach, referred to as “psychosocial,” encompasses both individual well-being and the maintenance of relationships, which are fundamental to quality of life and overall well-being. Collaboration and mutual support are key, which is why WHO emphasizes these aspects of health beyond the mere management of diseases.

“Art is a powerful tool for expressing emotions and overcoming difficulties, offering hope and resilience for the future. With the growing body of research on the connections between art and health, WHO increasingly highlights the therapeutic value of art in improving both mental and physical health,” says Ingrida Zurlytė, Head of the WHO Office in Lithuania. She emphasizes that this project represents an important investment in supporting emotional and mental health, as well as strengthening social cohesion not only among these families but also within the broader Lithuanian community.

The Power of Movement

According to “Artscape” educator and dance-movement therapist Ugnė Sasnauskaitė, women participated in the hour-long sessions once or twice a week. “I always invite participants to share how they are feeling and what thoughts they have. Then we perform various exercises—sometimes in groups, pairs, or individually. These exercises give women the opportunity to come together in a safe space, support each other, and feel heard, seen, and accepted as they are. Participants also discover new ways to express themselves through movement, gaining more self-confidence and self-esteem,” says Ugnė Sasnauskaitė.

The movement workshop series organized by “Artscape” took place over three months at the Naujininkai Refugee Reception Center in Vilnius, the International Organization for Migration Center in Vilnius, and concluded with an event at the National Gallery of Art (NDG). The organizers provided psychosocial support to vulnerable Ukrainian women using innovative creative methods. The primary goal of the workshops was to create a safe space for the most vulnerable women living in or visiting migration centers.

“I believe that the more people find joy in movement through dance, the happier they become. It offers a bit of respite in the phase of life they are in at that moment. This pause in life is both necessary and beneficial,” says “Artscape” educator and choreographer Indrė Ginkevičiūtė (Indrė GIN), adding that health is also connected to practice, engaging the body, and involving oneself in creative activities.

The educators share that after the workshops, participants would say, “Look, after two months with you, I now do this every day at home. I dance. I move.” To the educators, this shows that we can help ourselves because our bodies are made to move. To dance, you don’t need anything. When we are impacted by art, the effect is undeniable—we truly feel it, and this ability is inherent in all of us.

The project also included an “Artscape” camp for Ukrainian youths held in early June. The camp was attended by unaccompanied teenagers who are living in Lithuania without their parents and are refugees of war. The main goal of the camp was to summarize the two-year-long creative missions that the organization began with these young people in the summer of 2022 when they first arrived after the war in Ukraine started.

The camp employed methods to help the children relax, build team spirit, trust one another, and take care of themselves.

The project was funded by the U.S. Department of State as part of the 2024 Ukraine Refugee Response Plan in Lithuania.

For over 12 years, the arts agency “Artscape” has been creating and developing inclusion strategies aimed at an open society through professional art forms, providing spaces for vulnerable or underrepresented groups.