An investment in arts is also an investment in America’s health. Our work in 2013 centered around collecting research on quantifiable benefits of using the arts in healing and getting that research to practitioners in the military, in healthcare, and in leadership roles across the country.
The National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military
The National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military (NIAHM), a collaboration between Americans for the Arts and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, was founded in 2012 and made serious programmatic advances in 2013.
Arts, Health, and Well-Being Across the Military Continuum: White Paper and Framing a National Plan for Action
NIAHM hosted its National Summit: Arts, Health, and Wellness Across the Military Continuum in April 2013. This white paper addresses challenges and opportunities that came to light during conversations between 200 national arts, military, and healing leaders. It also serves as an excellent reference for some of the top-level quantitative research available on the impact that the arts have on healing.
Google+ Hangout
Wanting to bring the discussion on arts & the military to a larger audience, on November 19, NIAHM hosted a Google+ Hangout to encourage multiple voices from across the country. Our panelists represented different sectors and disciplines and discussed tools, resources, and processes to aid collaboration in communities.
The National Arts Policy Roundtable & Aspen Seminar for Leadership in the Arts
The Americans for the Arts policy roundtable programs collectively convene a select group of artists, philanthropists, and thought leaders in lively dialogues that explores how we can create a more vibrant role for arts and culture in 21st century American society. Both roundtables focused on the arts and healing. The 2013 National Arts Policy Roundtable included presentations of best practices, listening to those engaged in the work, participating in arts and healing demonstrations, and brainstorming how to best further the role of the arts as a tool for rejuvenating our nation and our world.