WAMFest 2026 ARTS In Health Hosted by FDU and Arts By The People
WAMFest 2026: ARTS in Health
ARTS By The People and Fairleigh Dickinson University presents WAMFest 2026: ARTS in Health; a two-day festival of creative workshops and performances designed to engage Nursing, Psychology, and Allied Health students at Fairleigh Dickinson University as well as regional health workers, while encouraging collaboration with the university’s Arts, Communication, and Humanities programs.
As New Jersey’s premier event at the intersection of arts and health, ARTS in Health, WAMFest celebrates how the arts foster skills — such as creativity, adaptability, empathy, curiosity, attention to detail, and communication — that are essential to the field of healthcare. However, sessions will also invite healthcare students and workers to build community, process and express job-related stress, and expand focus and imagination. In other words, WAMFest 2026: Arts In Health takes a holistic approach to wellness. When those who steward the well-being of others take care of themselves, they are better equipped for their work.
Unless otherwise indicated in the schedule below, all WAMFest programs are free and open to the public. Workshops are limited to 20 participants. There will be a waitlist for ‘observing only’.
To sign up for workshops, CLICK HERE
Day 1: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 – Lenfell Hall (Located in Hennessy Hall)
- 9:00-9:30 am: Check-in
- 9:30-11:00 am: Fiber Arts “Stitching Together” by Samantha Dooley, LSW Behavioral Health Clinician, Morris County Sexual Assault Center (Atlantic Health System)
Basic hand-sewing techniques to prevent secondary trauma. When working as a care provider, we can be exposed to trauma and stressors. Learn about secondary trauma, and techniques to manage it by using sewing, creativity, breathwork, and relaxation.
- 11:00-11:30 am: Break
- 11:30 am-1:00 pm: Collage “Finding Comfort Through Conversation and Collage” by Gwen charles, Multi-disciplinary artist
Participants will discuss sentiments on their wellbeing, take time to breathe together, and create a collage to explore ideas of comfort and rest. Participants will leave the workshop with their collage, a limited-edition artist print from Gwen, and a refreshed spirit.
- 1:00-2:30 pm: Lunchtime Presentation (By Invitation Only) “Stories In Motion” by Paul Rabinowitz, Kelly Guerrero and Micaela Camacho-Tenreiro
Stories in Motion pairs the art of storytelling with expressive dance and choreography. Our participants share their own stories and memories with our teaching artists who transcribe and translate those stories into poetry and dance in a one hour workshop. ARTS By The People developed this unique program during a 2-year residency at New Jersey Senior Communities between 2009-2011, and is now part of our regular programming at Older Adult and Continuum Care Communities, Survivors of Sexual Assault Groups and Memory Care Groups. Stories in Motion builds community and friendships through story sharing and exposing common threads with others.
- 2:30-4:00 pm: “Living in the Fractures: Writing Poetry as Self-Care” by Moriah Cohen, Certified Listener Poet
In this workshop, future medical professionals will use imagery and figurative language to write poetry about their challenges. By exploring life’s “fractures,” participants will find new ways to process and make sense of their experiences.
- 4:00-6:00 pm: Break
- 6:00-7:00 pm: Buffet & Refreshments
- 7:00-9:30 pm: The Platform (Registration Not Required) – Hosted by Micaela Camacho-Tenreiro with special guest, David Daniel.
ARTS By The People’s longstanding writing workshop and open mic series makes a special to Fairleigh Dickinson University. From first-time writers to published authors, all are welcome to share original poetry or prose. Each reader will be allotted 3-5 minutes on the mic, depending on the number of sign-ups