The Advocate 6.14.24

The Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish has unveiled the "Art for Everybody" initiative, a public art program designed to enhance community engagement, support local artists, and beautify public spaces. The initiative aims to make art accessible to all residents, boost the local economy, and foster community pride. Funded through a mix of public, private, and grant funding, the program will involve community participation in creating and installing various public art projects throughout the parish.

Engaging in hands-on art activities like pottery can significantly enhance mental health by reducing stress, boosting mood, and fostering creativity, making it beneficial for people of all ages.

Art on prescription programs in Australia, inspired by successful UK models, demonstrate significant mental and physical health benefits for older adults, though they face challenges integrating into the mainstream healthcare system.

Kri Van Sloun shares their journey of overcoming addiction and finding recovery through art and community support, ultimately embracing their identity as a trans man.

This research brief summarizes a study examining how arts participation can build social cohesion and enhance well-being in communities, presenting key findings from an integrative literature review and introducing a conceptual model that illustrates the relationships between arts participation, social cohesion, and well-being.

Renowned soprano Renee Fleming and geneticist Dr. Francis Collins collaborate through the NIH Music and Health Initiative to study and promote the therapeutic benefits of music in healthcare, advocating for its integration to enhance well-being and treat various health conditions.

First Lady Samina Alvi emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of floral art for mental health at a Floral Art Society of Pakistan event, celebrating the country’s success at the World Association of Floral Arts’ Bloom Oman competition.

Art fosters emotional and mental well-being by helping patients manage symptoms and improve health outcomes, while also supporting doctors in handling job-related stress and enhancing their clinical skills, highlighting its powerful role in holistic healing and healthcare.

The article from Psychology Today highlights the profound impact of art on brain function and mental health. Art not only serves as a source of aesthetic pleasure but also stimulates cognitive and emotional growth.

Alachua Chronicle, 5.16.24

A student-created documentary focusing on youth gun violence will be screened to raise awareness and stimulate community discussion. The event aims to highlight the personal and societal impacts of gun violence, involving local leaders and community members in seeking solutions. This initiative serves as an educational tool, promoting understanding and action against youth gun violence.

The controversy emerged after Verge canceled an exhibition of Black artists because of a piece considered racially insensitive, with Nataki Garrett involved through her leadership of the One Nation, One Project initiative, which aims to foster diversity and collaboration in the arts.

Nataki Garrett and Chay Yew have been awarded the 2024 Doris Duke Artist Awards for theatre, receiving $525,000 each. Garrett, known for her leadership in initiatives like One Nation/One Project and Arts For EveryBody, has made significant contributions to theatre.

The correlation between visiting art museums and improved health. Mentioning Arts For EveryBody and urges readers to participate by completing a short survey about their engagement in the arts and its impact on their well-being.

The theme “No Place Like Home” will drive shows and festivals in both large cities and rural locales of this country on July 27, 2024.

Gainesville Sun, 5.03.24

Gainesville community leaders are advocating for treating gun violence as a public health crisis similar to COVID-19. One Nation One Project (ONOP) is mentioned as a national initiative using arts and culture to address community healing and well-being. The article emphasizes the importance of community collaboration and support in addressing gun violence effectively.

Currently in pre-print, this study explores the intersection of arts, social cohesion, and wellbeing to guide future public health strategies.

In 2022 and 2023, One Nation/One Project leaders conducted site visits in nine communities, using sensory exercises to create data poems that reflect each community's unique characteristics, grounding their research in the experiences of community members.

American Theatre, 4.26.24

Nataki Garrett and Chay Yew have been awarded the 2024 Doris Duke Artist Awards for theatre, receiving $525,000 each. Garrett, known for her leadership in initiatives like One Nation/One Project and Arts For EveryBody, has made significant contributions to theatre.

The Observer, 4.24.24

The Sacramento arts scene may be on the brink of transformation. Since a pandemic that had threatened to gut local arts scenes globally, the community has worked tirelessly first to survive, and then to rebrand, shift, change — to become the dynamic and inclusive creative space the city envisions for itself.

Good Good Good, 4.22.24

What do florists, farmers, nurses, clowns, cooks, poets, analysts, activists, and more have in common? They’re all encouraged to join in on a nationwide community project on July 27, and it might be in a city near you.