Hearts of Practice: Cultivating a Healthier Nation through the Arts

Across the country, we are witnessing a profound shift in how we understand the relationship between creativity and clinical outcomes. We are seeing evidence that arts engagement is not merely enriching; it is inherently healing. In February, NASAA had the privilege of hosting Hearts of Practice: Promoting Statewide Strategies in the Arts and Health, a summit that brought together leaders from 30 state and jurisdictional arts agencies, all six regional arts organizations, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and many partners to explore this burgeoning frontier.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to NEA Chairman Mary Anne Carter and our partners at the National Endowment for the Arts for their support and partnership in this work. A special thank you goes to NEA Research & Analysis Director Sunil Iyengar for his foundational role in co-conceptualizing this work alongside NASAA Chief Program and Strategy Officer Ryan Stubbs. This convening—and the year-long professional learning community that preceded it—stands as a testament to what is possible when federal, regional and state leadership align to address the nation’s most pressing health needs.

As I shared during our opening session, state arts agencies are uniquely positioned to serve as both policy architects and program implementers to advance arts in health care strategies. You possess the unique ability to identify local opportunities for creative aging programs, arts-on-prescription initiatives or veteran support services and scale them into robust statewide strategies.

You are the bridge builders. You connect the arts community to the state department of health, the Veterans Administration office or the state medical college. By integrating the arts into our health ecosystems, we aren’t just reducing stress and loneliness; we are strengthening the very fabric of healthy communities.

To support your ongoing work to integrate the arts and health, I am happy to highlight several resources shared by two of our inspiring keynote speakers.

Dr. David Skorton, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), provided a compelling look at how the arts and humanities are becoming essential components of medical education. Dr. Skorton emphasized that these disciplines are not just “joys and pleasures”—they are vital tools for building empathy, resilience and communication skills in health care professionals.

I encourage you to explore AAMC’s FRAHME (The Fundamental Role of Arts and Humanities in Medical Education) initiative. Its Getting Started Guide and Prism Model are invaluable for anyone looking to integrate the arts into clinical curricula. With over 90% of U.S. medical schools now reporting courses in medical humanities, the opportunity for arts and humanities partnerships has never been greater. For additional learning, I highly recommend the AAMC article, When Art Meets Medicine.

We were also joined by the arts-in-health luminary Dr. Tasha Golden, whose insights on evaluation as a creative practice left us all inspired. Dr. Golden has generously shared a customized resource for the state arts agency community, including a complimentary workbook and additional materials. Her perspective is essential for any agency looking to move beyond “inspiring stories” toward evidence based models that satisfy the rigors of health-sector data.

An example of a current policy shift can be observed in Georgia. The Georgia Arts & Health Resolution, now in committee, acknowledges the effectiveness of arts in health initiatives in improving mental health outcomes. A press conference at the Georgia State Capitol on March 12, 2026, will promote the resolution and showcase the role of the arts in public health.

As we move forward, please remember that your leadership is helping the nation rethink health and well-being. Let’s continue to advance this important work and build a healthier nation—together.