2024 AWARD RECIPIENT

Cam Busch

Photos by Joseph Schlabs

“I have mentored and supervised, and now those people have grown up like flowers. They’re blooming and blossoming and making their own paths and their own impacts. And that’s so wonderful for me to see.”

For over 30 years, Cam Busch has been a pioneering force in the field of art therapy. Her journey as an exhibiting artist and photographer spans half a century, leaving a lasting impact on the intersection of art and healing. Notably, her work laid the foundation for the Arts in Medicine program at CHI Memorial Hospital, fostering creativity as a vital component of healthcare.

Collaborating with AVA for rotating art exhibits and partnering with the Hunter Museum, Cam Busch also endowed a 20-year health lecture series aimed at promoting awareness of the therapeutic benefits of the arts in healthcare settings.

In 2010, Cam’s creative spirit found new expression alongside her partner and songwriter, Tony Smith. Together, they blended dance, music, and art, culminating in the recording of the song “Wade in the Water.” Today, while Cam continues to exhibit her artworks, Tony enriches their presentations with live music and dance performances.

Their dedication extends to Freedom Sings, USA Veterans, where Cam serves as the organization’s creative arts therapist, employing music therapy to aid veterans grappling with PTSD. Tony actively supports their retreats, furthering their mission of healing through the arts.

Reflecting on her lifelong commitment to art therapy, Cam recalls the profound impact on children she has mentored over the decades. Many of them, now adults, attribute their emotional resilience and success to the therapeutic power of art, crediting Cam for helping them navigate life’s challenges.

Cam’s personal resilience traces back to her childhood battle with polio, which left her with facial and back paralysis at just five years old. Supported by her father’s unwavering encouragement and training regimen, she defied the odds and emerged stronger, eventually becoming a competitive child swimmer.

Receiving the Ruth Holmberg Arts Leadership Award holds profound significance for Cam Busch. Named after a dedicated advocate of the arts and civil rights, this accolade recognizes Cam’s enduring commitment to fostering creativity and healing through art, echoing Ruth Holmberg’s legacy of cultural empowerment.

Cam Busch’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of art in healing and personal growth. Her dedication to mentoring, coupled with her artistic endeavors, continues to inspire and uplift those around her, reinforcing the belief that art is not only a form of expression but also a catalyst for profound positive change.