Arts and culture enrich our lives, our communities, and our nation. At this critical moment in history, there is growing recognition that the arts can reveal new ideas, open opportunities, and help us confront many of the challenges we face. On January 30, 2024, the White House Domestic Policy Conference and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) co-hosted a Healing, Building Bridges, Prosperity: Community Arts and Culture Summitis a first-of-its-kind gathering for arts organizations and artists to share insights and explore opportunities to contribute to the health and well-being of individuals and communities, revitalize physical spaces, advance democracy, and promote equitable outcomes. In this blog series, you will hear from the diverse perspectives represented at the event – government officials, policy makers, artists, advocates, scholars, and arts leaders – about the ideas and inspiration they gained from this experience, and how they are working to develop a broader understanding of how arts and culture can contribute to other sectors and create new opportunities for artists.
Deborah F. Rutter. Photo courtesy of Elman Studios.
My journey to the intersection of arts and health began with a meeting in my office.
Renée Fleming, renowned soprano and Kennedy Center artistic advisor, presented a paper full of questions and ideas: Why does the music she sings connect people in such a tangible way? What are the mechanisms by which art affects the brain and improves health? And how can we build partnerships between artists, scientists, and clinicians to share and advance research on music, art, and health?
Of course, like all of us who work in the arts, I instinctively knew that engaging in the arts was good for the mind, body and soul—it energized me and my community—but I found myself asking the same questions as Renée.
From that conference, in collaboration with Dr. Rene and Francis Collins, the National Institutes of Health, the NEA, and the Kennedy Center, Good Health (This means that Sound Health Network) was formed. Nearly 10 years later, Impact It's about how this kind of work impacts society as a whole.
Throughout the Healing, Bridging, Prosperity Summit, I reminisced about my meeting with Renée and was grateful to have the opportunity to explore this topic with some of the most influential leaders in the arts, sciences, and public policy.
At the summit, participants discussed art as a tool to overcome social challenges and shared their communities' experiences. music, danceor Visit the museum can heal us Body and MindWe've said, and we know, that art can help us heal and grow, but we've also said that art does more than that: it can help us live.
One phrase stuck with me: the idea of living an “artistic life.” To me, this means understanding the importance of art in every aspect of our existence. An artistic life makes the lows more bearable and the highs more inspiring. It gives us a safe place to return to amid the daily routines of work, school drop-off and pick-up, and errands. An artistic life elevates the ordinary to the extraordinary and, science shows, perfects our well-being.
The World Health Organization defines health as “It is a “fundamental right” and “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.” The spread of loneliness We need to realize that overall health is more than blood pressure, cholesterol, and other physical indicators. Living a healthy life requires not only a healthy body, but also social connections. It also requires living an artistic life.
My favorite days at the Kennedy Center are the ones with a packed schedule that brings together people from all walks of life for a shared experience. I don't know what my guests faced before they arrived, or what challenges they'll face when they leave, but I do know one thing: their lives will be better because of the arts they experienced today.
The data and the anecdotal data — the examples of the life-changing impact of the arts that we've all experienced — are conclusive: art is good for our health. art is good for our communities.
So, as I think about the lessons we learned from January's summit, I feel like we're at a tipping point. It's time to take artistic living out of policies and documents and make it part of our daily healthy habits. How do we make artistic living as important as eating our vegetables, getting eight hours of sleep, and walking 10,000 steps?
One of the most common health habits, walking 10,000 steps a day, didn't come from a research paper or policy decision. This began in 1964 with a marketing campaign for a pedometer in Japan.There was nothing particularly specific about 10,000 steps. But it was well known that being active was good for your health. Walking is accessible to most people, and 10,000 steps was an encouraging but achievable goal. The campaign took off and revolutionized the way we thought about activity.
Today, I challenge myself to think the same way about art: It's time for a 10,000-step moment for arts and culture.
The Power of 10,000 Steps is about encouraging you to move, but not telling you how. We're not saying you have to go for a run, play tennis, or join a team to be healthy. We're simply encouraging small, everyday habits that add up to big benefits. Park your car a little farther away. Walk to your next work call. Take your family to the park.
Similarly, living an artistic life is not just about going to the symphony or the ballet company. Sure, nothing beats coming together for a live performance, but it also includes parents who encourage their kids to color, teachers who use curricula that incorporate the arts, doctors who invite musicians into their hospitals, and employers who allow employees to leave work early for piano lessons.
We must advocate in research and policy. People cannot take advantage of resources that do not exist, and access to the arts is far from equitable. But simply offering or recommending programs does not lead to widespread adoption. Lowering the barriers to entry to living an artistic life is part of our responsibility as leaders.
What if symphony orchestra instrument coloring books were distributed along with tickets to children's concerts? What if hospitals sent patients home with music playlists rather than just prescriptions? Social Prescriptions Is it available across the country? I've been meeting with CEOs recently to discuss how employers and cultural organizations can work better together. How can we ensure that every employee in the country has access to cultural experiences as part of their employee benefits? Imagine going to your doctor's appointment and being asked how many times a week you interact with the arts.
When artistic living becomes synonymous with healthy living, the possibilities are endless. That's the future we're moving towards now. And one day, your Apple Watch may not only remind you to reach your step goal, but also encourage you to enjoy art every day.
Standing at the intersection of arts, innovation, and public policy, Deborah F. Rutter has served as president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since September 2014. Previously, she held executive roles at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. At the Kennedy Center, Rutter oversees the production, presentation, and curation of more than 2,000 diverse performances annually; leads the Center's global network of more than 40 educational initiatives that reach more than 2.1 million people; and curates a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Through all of her work, Rutter emphasizes the vital role the arts play in everyday life.
