The Arts for One Health Project, led by the One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI), is reimagining how we communicate complex health and environmental challenges. By using creative expression, primarily photography, the program brings the connections between human, animal, and environmental health to life in ways that are accessible, engaging, and culturally relevant.
A Vision for Engagement
One Health issues, such as food security, environmental sustainability, and public health, are often discussed in technical terms that can be hard for non-specialists to engage with. OHDI designed Arts for One Health to bridge this gap, providing a platform where youth, artists, and community members can explore these challenges through creativity. The initiative encourages participants to reflect on real-world experiences, share perspectives, and spark conversations that make these global issues tangible.
Bringing the Project to Life
Arts for One Health has been implemented through the One Health Photo Competition, which invited participants worldwide to submit photographs accompanied by short narratives illustrating One Health themes. Over two global cycles, the program showcased diverse stories and perspectives from across Africa, Asia, and Europe, highlighting everything from sustainable livelihoods and food systems to environmental health and human–animal interactions.
Through this initiative, OHDI has fostered creative storytelling as a tool for awareness, providing a low-barrier platform for individuals to share their lived experiences and insights. By doing so, the program amplifies voices that are often underrepresented in discussions about global health and sustainability.
Looking to the Future
Building on the early successes of the photo competitions, OHDI plans to expand Arts for One Health into a recurring program that explores multiple artistic formats, including illustration, video, poetry, and digital storytelling. Future editions aim to strengthen community engagement, provide clearer thematic guidance, and integrate creative outputs into OHDI’s broader advocacy and One Health programs.
Arts for One Health demonstrates that creativity can complement science, research, and policy, offering innovative pathways to connect, educate, and inspire.
For a closer look at the project’s achievements, participant stories, and lessons learned, read and download the full Arts for One Health Impact Report.
