Author: Waller, Margy and Joe Grady

Publication Year:

Media Type: Report

Summary:

This pilot communications research initiative begins to qualitatively explore Americans’ current thinking about the connection between arts and health, and their responses to communications about this topic. Conversations with a diverse cross-section of individuals in the Twin Cities give us important insights into how a conversation about the arts-health connection may play out at broader scales, and the potential of this focus to attract new engagement with and support (financial and otherwise) for the arts. The pilot study was conducted as a strategic partnership between Topos, Metris Arts Consulting, and Americans for the Arts.

Abstract:

Arts advocates around the country work hard to make the case that creative venues, activities and professionals should receive strong support—that we should appreciate, encourage and fund our theaters, galleries and concert halls; dance festivals and poetry readings; painters and storytellers.
In the course of this advocacy, one of the most important yet underutilized arguments is the social impact of the arts—the benefits that go beyond enjoyment and enrichment of individual participants. Among these social impacts are benefits to individual and community health, which are increasingly a focus of social science research and evaluation. A hypothesis going into the research reported on here is that these health benefits may have the potential to convincingly persuade more Americans that time and money devoted to arts-related activity are well spent. This pilot communications research initiative begins to qualitatively explore Americans’ current thinking about the connection between arts and health, and their responses to communications about this topic. Conversations with a diverse cross-section of individuals in the Twin Cities give us important insights into how a conversation about the arts-health connection may play out at broader scales, and the potential of this focus to attract new engagement with and support (financial and otherwise) for the arts.
The pilot study was conducted as a strategic partnership between Topos, Metris Arts Consulting, and Americans for the Arts. Metris worked with a public health researcher to produce a document summarizing existing research and example projects at the intersection of arts and health. Topos, Metris, and Americans for the Arts invited a diverse group of advisors from across the nation to join the initiative and provide direction and perspective throughout the process.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Participation, Marketing and Communications, Evaluation, Economic Impact, Community Development, Advocacy