On June 1, Americans for the Arts (AFTA) participated in the 2024 Brain on Art Conference in New York City. The conference was hosted by Susan Magsamen, Ivy Ross, and Diana Saville with the primary focus to merge practice, research, and advocacy to advance the neuroarts. Dr. Magsamen, the founder and executive director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at the Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Dr. Ross, the vice president of Hardware and Design at Google, wrote the New York Times best-seller, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us. The book explains what we know about the neuroarts, the transdisciplinary study of how the arts and aesthetic experiences tangible change the body, brain, and behavior and how this is knowledge is translated into actionable practices that advance health and wellbeing.
The Brain on Arts conference spanned over two days. The first day featured an Arts Passport Day, where conference participants engaged in various art experiences around New York City. On the second day, workshops were conducted with diverse panels led by expert moderators in the field.
Tooshar Swain, Director of Public Policy, at Americans for the Arts participated in the final panel focused on the future of neuroarts. The panel also included Sunil Iyengar from -winning singer and neuroarts advocate Rene Fleming., Grammy Award-the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Sarah Locke- rah Locke from AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), and Grammy Award winning singer and neuroarts advocate, Rene Fleming. Topics discussed included the White House and NEA’s Summit on Arts and Culture, which convened leaders from various sectors to explore impactful ideas, policies, and actions to elevate the arts and humanities across the nation, in addition to a preview of the new research sponsored by AARP, Alzheimer’s Disease and Music Engagement Economic Impact.
Brain on Arts research supports Americans for the Arts legislative agenda, by validating that arts are helpful for invisible wounds in our Veterans. Through successful advocacy efforts, the arts community successfully advocated for $10 million for Community Arts Engagement at the Department of Defense’s Office of Morale, Welfare and Recreation in the FY2024 appropriations bill passed last March.
Additionally, included in the FY24 appropriations bill was $5 million for creative arts therapies at the Department of Veterans Affairs. In the post-pandemic landscape, arts education funding and policies are crucial as arts programs face the threat of cuts in funding and time during the school day to address learning loss in other subjects. Despite this, it was the arts that provided relief and comfort during the pandemic and have the potential to alleviate issues such as anxiety and loneliness in today’s school environment. Research also indicates that engaging in more extracurricular arts activities in early adolescence is associated with fewer externalizing behaviors in mid-adolescence.
The Brain on Arts showcased the significant progress made in the research and practice of neuroarts. It underscored the importance of promoting this work and the arts through targeted advocacy to policymakers.
Americans for the Arts remains dedicated to collaborating with members of the neuroarts community to advocate for this vital work in Washington, D.C., and across the country.
For more information, please follow us @Americans4Arts.
Contact
Mariaesmeralda Paguaga
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