Literature Reviews

Social Impact Pilot Project: Arts, Health, and Well-being (2018)

In May 2018, Americans for the Arts engaged Metris Arts Consulting (Metris) and Topos Partnership (Topos) to explore what promotes appreciation of the role of the arts in personal and community health and wellness, among members of the general public. The pilot project is a strategic partnership, drawing on Metris’ arts and well-being research experience and Topos’ expertise in communications research on a wide range of issues, including the arts. The pilot will inform possible future message-testing and advocacy efforts by Americans for the Arts to achieve the vision of the arts being recognized as integral to the lives of all people and essential to healthy, vibrant, and equitable communities across the nation. The pilot includes three components: (1) a summary of research and example projects about the impact of the arts on health and well-being, (2) field research and testing of messages to increase the likelihood of the public supporting funding and policy goals related to arts-health/wellness integrations, and (3) an evaluation of the pilot project to surface implications for expanding the research on a larger scale.