From the Research Team

Statewide Strategies in the Arts and Health

NASAA’s new report, A Guide to Promoting Statewide Strategies in the Arts and Health, explores how state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and regional arts organizations (RAOs) can help build a durable arts and health infrastructure across the country. The report was developed through NASAA’s Arts and Health Professional Learning Community and informed by the 2026 Hearts of Practice convening; it reflects the learning, practice and priorities of more than 70 SAA and RAO staff representing more than 36 states and regions.

The evidence base for the arts in health has continued to grow. Public agencies, health systems, funders and community partners are increasingly recognizing the arts as a pillar of individual and community health. This report shows why SAAs and RAOs are essential partners in developing policies that bring the healing benefits of the arts to all communities.

In the report, readers will find:

Research highlighting the relationship between arts participation, healthy aging, mental health and community well-being
Five major themes of state-led practice: arts on prescription, creative aging, veterans and military communities, cross-sector partnerships, and research and evaluation
Six priority recommendations for the next phase of the field
Practical examples for SAAs, RAOs, funders, philanthropy, health care partners and public health agencies

A Highlights and Recommendations document is also available.

NASAA welcomes continued collaboration with state arts agencies, regional arts organizations, funders, health systems, academic researchers, public health agencies and policy partners who are ready to translate evidence into infrastructure.

NASAA Answers Your Questions

As part of its service to state and jurisdictional arts agencies (SAAs) and the broader arts and culture field, NASAA responds to requests for information on a wide variety of arts, culture and policy topics. In the first half of fiscal year 2026, NASAA staff fulfilled 283 information requestsM from SAAs, partners and the public. Requests came in for information related to federal funding and policy, as well as for research to help SAAs support planning, advocacy and program design, among many other subjects. Twelve states and jurisdictions requested a special service, such as commissioned research, speaking engagements or in-depth technical assistance.

The largest share of requests involved advocacy topics (18%), followed by questions about federal funding and policy (11%). Other categories included SAA executive leadership and federal reporting. State arts agencies made the majority of requests (89%), but NASAA also responded to queries from regional arts organizations, the National Endowment for the Arts and other nonmembers.

For a list of sample questions and requests, check out the full reportM. For questions about NASAA’s information services, contact Research Director Mohja Rhoads. To ask NASAA a question, please visit our Ask NASAA page!

M = NASAA member-only content