About the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation:

• What is the difference between the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation, and the Al and Malka Green Artists’ Health Centre?
• Does my donation to the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation go to the activities of the Foundation, or to the clinic at TWH?
• I was a professional dancer and remember how difficult it was to access and afford appropriate care. Is there a way I can donate specifically to a fund to help pay for dancers’ health care?
• What are the main activities of the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation?
• How many of the services at the Al and Malka Green Artists’ Health Centre are covered by OHIP, and which are fee-for-service?
• I don’t live in Toronto.  Are there other artists’ clinics where I can get similar services?
• What are the possibilities for volunteering?

What is the difference between the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation, and the Al and Malka Green Artists’ Health Centre?

The initiative for both organizations came from the artists’ community in the mid-1990’s.  As the artists’ Steering Committee worked towards realizing their vision of a dedicated health care clinic for professional artists, it was necessary to create a more formal organization, and in 1997, the group incorporated as the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation.  The AHCF Board and Artists’ Committee then worked with Toronto Western Hospital to create the Al and Malka Green Artists’ Health Centre, which is a facility in the hospital, and which is funded, managed and administrated by staff at Toronto Western Hospital.  The Foundation continues to work in partnership with TWH to ensure that programs and services at the clinic are responsive to the needs of the community, and to promote the clinic within the artistic community.  The Foundation, in addition, runs a comprehensive Education and Outreach Program, and participates in raising funds for the Joysanne Sidimus Subsidy Fund, and the AHC Research Program.

Does my donation to the Artists’ Health Centre Foundation go to the activities of the Foundation, or to the clinic at TWH?

Your donation to the AHCF helps fund the activities of the Foundation.  These include:

• Education and outreach to the artistic community about health issues through our Education and Outreach Program
• Facilitating access to complementary health services at the Artists’ Health Centre clinic through the Joysanne Sidimus Subsidy Fund
• Helping to promote research into artists’ health issues, through grants to the AHC Research Program.

The Artists’ Health Centre Foundation is a charitable organization, and will issue a tax receipt for your donation.

The Artists’ Health Centre essential staff and core practitioners (nurse practitioner, psychotherapists, consulting physician, and receptionist) are paid for through the generosity of Toronto Western Hospital and the University Health Network, while the AHC allied health professionals (physiotherapists, massage therapist, chiropractor, and naturopath) are fee-for-service practitioners, and as such are paid by their clients.

I was a professional dancer and remember how difficult it was to access and afford appropriate care. Is there a way I can donate specifically to a fund to help pay for dancers health care?

The Joysanne Sidimus Subsidy Fund provides limited subsidies to artists of all professional disciplines, including dance, based on financial criteria.  At this time, we do not have a fund specifically set up to support only dancers.

What are the main activities of the AHC Foundation?

The Artists’ Health Centre Foundation is an active partner with Toronto Western Hospital in the day-to-day operations of the Artists’ Health Centre, and AHCF staff and volunteers meet regularly with TWH and University Health Network management to ensure flexibility and responsiveness in clinic activities and services.  AHCF staff and volunteers are also active in promoting the clinic within the artistic community, to ensure that local artists are aware of the availability and accessibility of resources through the hospital and the Artists’ Health Centre.

The AHCF runs an extensive program of workshops, clinics and presentations in the community in order to help artists develop appropriate strategies and self care tools to deal with common health issues.  The Foundation also works in partnership with the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation to raise funding for both the Joysanne Sidimus Subsidy Fund and the AHC Research Program, through its own fundraising events and also by supporting hospital foundation events.

How many of the services at the Al and Malka Green Artists’ Health Centre are covered by OHIP, and which are fee-for-service?

At the Artists’ Health Centre, an artist client is able to access primary care services through the Nurse Practitioner and consulting physician, and mental health services through staff psychotherapists, for no charge.  These practitioners are funded by Toronto Western Hospital directly.

Physiotherapy services, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and appointments with the naturopath are all fee-for-service, and are paid by the client.  Some of these services may be covered by your private health care plan, and in addition, qualifying artists may apply to the Joysanne Sidimus Subsidy Fund for help with payment.
Support groups are available at low cost on an ongoing basis, and in addition, AHC clients are able to access Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction courses two to three times yearly, at no cost (there is a small fee to cover materials).

I don’t live in Toronto.  Are there other artists’ clinics where I can get similar services?

As far as we know at this time, there is no other clinic in Canada (and possibly  internationally) that offers the range of services that is available through the Al and Malka Green Artists’ Health Centre, or that offers services to such a diverse group of artistic disciplines.

There are, however, excellent clinics and practitioners both locally and internationally that focus on specific therapeutic modalities and one or two specific artistic disciplines.  We hope, in the near future, to develop a list of clinics to provide as a resource to artists who are not able to access services at the AHC.

What are the possibilities for volunteering?

The AHCF welcomes volunteers!  If you are interested in helping out, please contact Iona Frost at 416 351 0239, or by email.

To volunteer at the Al and Malka Green Artists’ Health Centre, you will need to go through Toronto Western Hospital at the University Health Network.  For more information about how to volunteer at the University Health Network, click here.