Michael Tan

Dr. Michael Tan is an Associate Professor in Art and Design at Sheffield Hallam University, affiliated with Lab4Living and the Culture and Creativity Research Institute. His work bridges art, design, and healthcare, with a focus on aging, wellbeing, and culturally sensitive care practices. He holds a PhD, MA, and BFA, contributing to both academic research and applied creative projects.

Research interests include arts-based interventions for health, creative aging, and socially engaged design. He leads projects like the Singapore A-Health Intervention and collaborates globally with institutions such as McGill University and Canterbury Christ Church University. His recent work explores participatory art in dementia care, intergenerational heritage programs, and pandemic-era cultural initiatives.

Publications span topics like the efficacy of art-based aging interventions, curatorial practices during crises, and the role of applied theatre in end-of-life discussions. He actively supervises postgraduate research in care innovation, therapeutic objects, and health communication.

Lab4Living collaborations include the '100 Year Life' project and Future Home initiatives. He co-edited A critical appraisal of research in arts, health and wellbeing (2023) and developed projects like Dying Matters, which uses performance to address mortality taboos.