Arts & Health
Resources
Curated by CA for the Arts, browse all the resources we have compiled relating to Arts & Health and Advocacy.
New Resource
Arts & Health Month Toolkit 2026
Celebrate Arts & Health Month this November! Explore our Arts & Health Month Toolkit for practical ideas, resources, and ready-to-use materials to help you get involved. Learn the ins and outs of the toolkit during our upcoming "Arts & Health Toolkit Launch" webinar on Wednesday, September 30th from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm PT.
Other Resources
REPORT
Mobilizing Cross-Sector Advocacy for Arts & Mental Health (2026)
Rodriguez et al., 2026
E-BOOK
Arts & Health: Four Big Ideas for Improving Health through the Arts
Tasha Golden, PhD
GUIDE
A Guide to Promoting Statewide Strategies in the Arts and Health (2026)
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
REPORT
Americans Speak Out About the Arts Public Opinion Poll Report
Americans for the Arts
VIDEO
The science behind using the arts to combat loneliness and social isolation (2026)
PBS NewsHour
GUIDE
Creative Care: A Resource for Artists Working in Humanitarian Contexts (2025)
Jameel Arts & Health Lab
REPORT
Bridging Distinct Communities: A study of artists and culture bearers in the Bay Area (2026)
Mosaic America & San José State University
ARTICLE
A Scoping Review of Arts in Mental Health Policy in the United States
Rodriguez et al., 2025
VIDEO
How the arts can create healthier communities (2025)
CBS Sunday Morning
GUIDE
Arts on Prescription: A Field Guide for US Communities (2023)
BOOK
“Your Brain on Art”
Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross
BOOK
“Art Cure”
Daisy Fancourt
Research & Data
Here are some organizations examining how the arts influence health and well-being with evidence-based research resource hubs.
University Of Florida Center For Arts In Medicine
The University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine is a national leader in arts and health research, education, and practice. They lead scientific studies and initiatives exploring how artistic engagement acts as a positive health behavior.
Jameel Arts & Health Lab
With a focus on overlooked and underserved communities, the Jameel Arts & Health Lab leverages scientific evidence, a global ‘Healing Arts’ campaign, and capacity building, to drive the integration of the arts into mainstream medicine and public health policy.
National Endowment for the Arts Research Labs
Through a series of awards, the National Endowment for the Arts has established a national program of interdisciplinary research teams in the arts. The program will yield empirical insights about the arts for the benefit of arts and non-arts sectors alike.
Neuroarts Resource Center
The Neuroarts Resource Center is a dynamic and ever-expanding platform fueled by the interdisciplinary field and driven by a shared belief in the power of arts and aesthetic experiences to enhance health and wellbeing.
News & Stories
ACR 204: Behavioral Health and Arts (2026)
In partnership with CA for the Arts and California Behavioral Health Association,and introduced by Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva, the California State Assembly passed ACR 204, a resolution recognizing the important role that arts integration plays in supporting behavioral health and brain health.
WatchCalifornia Arts Advocates Make Case for Artists as ‘Second Responders’ to Pandemic (2020)
When facing disasters, California looks to workers like firefighters and nurses to save lives. But what about rebuilding those lives after they’ve been saved?
Artists are Second Responders, Essential Workers Helping Us Cope and Rebuild (2020)
The COVID-19 crisis makes it even more apparent that under-resourced communities rely on art organizations to act as de-facto crisis management centers: networking, informing, and even distributing food and basic supplies.
Arts & Health Across America
In recent years, various organizations and agencies have supported the role of the arts in enhancing health outcomes, calling for the integration of arts-based strategies into public health agendas.
Investing in Arts and Culture for Healthy Communities
In March 2024, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (New York Fed), in partnership with One Nation/One Project (ONOP), hosted an event that brought together people from various sectors interested in strengthening healthier communities focusing on investing in arts and culture. Learn More.
Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities
In January 2024, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the White House Domestic Policy Council hosted a summit to further conversations on how arts and culture can help to bridge, heal, and thrive communities. It began with a pre-summit convening attended by national leaders to share insights and a summary of key learnings is noted in a caucus report led by Jameel Arts & Health Lab (JAHL), an initiative supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
UNGA Healing Arts Week
Spearheaded by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab and the World Health Organization, the UNGA Healing Arts Week occurs on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly since 2023. The week-long events featured innovative approaches to global health and wellbeing through the arts. Learn More.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Funded Projects
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded a collaboration between the CDC Foundation and the NEA that provided grants to arts and cultural organizations to educate communities about COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. Learn More.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Funded Research
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded research for art-based interventions emphasizing the role of arts engagement as a vital component of public health. Learn More.
Arts & Health Main Page
Navigate back the Arts & Health Initiative homepage.
Learning Library
Browse our catalog of our Arts & Health webinars and event recordings.
Advocacy & Policy
Learn about advocacy campaigns, position statements, policy priorities, and legislative updates.