NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative

In this week's guest blog post, Laura Henderson, Head of Program at Frontiers for Young Minds (FYM), shares how the journal is bridging science, art, and education to make cutting-edge research accessible to young audiences. Through its unique model, where kids aged 8-15 review real research, the journal makes science engaging and relevant. One of the earliest Young Reviewers, now studying post-graduate neuroscience, shared how Frontiers for Young Minds opened new doors for her future: “I really wanted more science in my life... and got to see behind the scenes. It was cool to be part of how science works and give constructive criticism. … 100% it cemented my foundation in neuroscience, teaching me to process scientific language. FYM enables kids to enjoy starting to learn how the world works.” Researchers, clinicians, and educators interested in interdisciplinary science education can explore opportunities to mentor Young Reviewers or contribute to Frontiers for Young Minds, complementing the Neuroarts Resource Center’s efforts to bring neuroaesthetics to wider audiences. Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/eNDKC2hj

We are excited to announce the launch of the Neuroarts Academic Network (NAN). The NAN is a new global academic network that will focus on the transformative power of the arts in health, learning, and across society. Developed as part of the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative—a collaboration between The Johns Hopkins University and The Aspen Institute with funding from The Music Man Foundation—the Network’s goal is to make the core principles of neuroarts part of the established academic and professional career opportunities across disciplines including the arts, health, basic sciences, public health, architecture, design, education, business, community development, and more.    Informed by a Working Group with members from over 35 public and private universities and institutions from around the globe, the Network seeks to connect existing programs and support sustainable and rigorous growth of the field through research, training, and career development. We invite you to learn more about the NAN and its Working Group. https://lnkd.in/eFSuP4D7

In this week's guest blog post, Assistant Vice President of Arts & Well-being Aly Lokuta invites the NRC community to join New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) Arts & Well-being and the University of Florida - Center for Arts in Medicine at Creating Healthy Communities 2025 on October 14-16. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and be part of shaping healthier communities through the arts. Lokuta cites Dr Jill Sonke, Director of Research Initiatives at the UF Center for Arts in Medicine, who says, “Creating Healthy Communities is more than a convening — it’s a catalytic space where artists, public health professionals, community leaders, policymakers and others come together to imagine and activate new possibilities for health and well-being through the arts.” Find out more at https://lnkd.in/e8235zYr. -- Arts in Health Consulting

Meet the NeuroArts Blueprint Scientific Advisory Board, leading experts who will guide the research priorities outlined in the NeuroArts Blueprint Global Research Strategy. Their mission is to shape a comprehensive agenda—spanning basic, translational, clinical, and community-based research—that advances rigorous, interdisciplinary evidence in the field. The Board will help to identify gaps in knowledge and inform a research strategy to define rigorous research standards, protocols and outcome measures. Its initiatives include authoring consensus-building reviews and theoretical frameworks for submission to top-tier journals, commissioning white papers to broaden the reach of findings, and ensuring that research insights are accessible both to the scientific community and the public. Board members will also spearhead collaborations with public and private partners to accelerate discovery and application. Chaired by Dr. Indre Viskontas, President of the Society for the Neuroscience of Creativity, and guided by Dr. Emmeline Edwards, NeuroArts Blueprint Director of Research, this diverse and interdisciplinary group of thought leaders will break down silos, elevate standards, and help lay the foundation for a strong, unified field. https://lnkd.in/eGcWHKVS

In this compelling installment of Voices from the Field, we speak with Sunil Iyengar — Director of the Office of Research & Analysis at the National Endowment for the Arts — about arts-based strategies for wellbeing and flourishing. He reflects on his journey from health journalism to federal research and highlights the importance of shared language and honoring the complexity of the arts in advancing the field. Iyengar discusses how research is elucidating the transformative impact of creative arts from reducing PTSD in veterans to supporting healthcare workers, older adults, and cancer patients through art, dance, and music. This conversation brings to life the powerful ways the arts can foster human wellbeing and flourishing. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e76RqJvF

We are honored to announce Dr. Emmeline Edwards as the inaugural Director of Research for the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative. Dr. Edwards, a noted pioneer in the field, will oversee development of the NeuroArts Blueprint Global Research Strategy, manage the Renee Fleming Neuroarts Investigator Awards program, and guide evidence-based programs alongside our Scientific Advisory Board. “Dr. Edwards’ vision, leadership, and pioneering work embody the very heart of neuroarts: using the arts as a powerful, evidence-based tool to transform health and well-being. We are honored to have her with us and excited for the expertise and inspiration she brings to this growing field,” said Susan Magsamen, Co-Director of the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative. She previously served as Director of Extramural Research at NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, earned her Ph.D. in Neurochemistry from Fordham University, and held a tenured position as Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Maryland. She currently serves as Chair of World Women in Neuroscience. While at NIH, Dr. Edwards spearheaded development of the NIH Music-Based Intervention Toolkit and served on the expert panel for Music-Based Reporting Guidelines, advancing research rigor and reproducibility across neuroarts research. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eWMJf2EN

In this installment of our NRC interview series “Voices from the Field,” we speak with David Leventhal—acclaimed dancer, teaching artist, and Program Director for the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dance for PD program. David shares how dance fosters profound transformation for people living with Parkinson's disease, moving far beyond traditional therapy approaches. He shares insights on building sustainable, artist-led programs, harnessing the power of storytelling for impact, and envisioning a future where neuroarts transforms healthcare. Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eTqm9FWG The results speak for themselves: “Dance for PD is a hands-down success. It’s one of the most important programs for Parkinson’s disease in the country.”  – Mary Ellen Thibodeau, RN  Executive Director, Rhode Island APDA The focus is not illness; it is living. It is self-expression, human connection, joie de vivre, beauty, love.” – Dance for PD Participant Want to explore the science? Dive into the extensive multi-decade research database showing dance’s robust positive effects on Parkinson’s disease at https://lnkd.in/eJT7ZvE.

In this powerful installment of our NRC interview series “Voices from the Field,” NeuroArts Blueprint Co-Director Susan Magsamen sits down with Christopher Bailey, a global trailblazer at the intersection of arts and health. As the visionary behind the World Health Organization’s Healing Arts Initiative, Christopher has been instrumental in building a worldwide network of research centers dedicated to advancing the science and practice of how the arts can improve physical, mental and social well-being.   Susan and Christopher explore how the arts can mend trauma, bridge cultural divides, and spark community resilience. From movement and music to storytelling and visual expression, this conversation vividly brings to life the profound ways creative expression fosters human connection, meaning, and well-being across the globe Watch the full interview on the Neuroarts Resource Center: https://lnkd.in/eirdPnJP

Intentional spaces and neuroarchitecture are emerging as powerful subfields within the broader neuroarts movement — and the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative is proud to be helping shape a roadmap and implementation plan for this critically important sector. In July, in partnership with International Arts + Mind Lab and Your Brain on Art co-authors, we gathered an extraordinary group of architects, designers, researchers, economists, public leaders, and systems thinkers for the Intentional Spaces Salon at the breathtaking Peter Michael Winery. This was not a typical conference. It was a working retreat — a chance to step back from the noise and look far ahead: 2, 5, even 10 years into the future of the built environment. Together, we co-created the next chapter in the growing movement for healthier, more human-centered spaces, expanding on a shared Roadmap for the evolution of neuroarchitecture as a vital subfield of neuroarts. The vineyard was a living metaphor for this work. Just as it takes decades of intentional cultivation to grow a thriving vineyard, building a field like neuroarchitecture requires thoughtful investment — in people, in science, in systems, in culture. But when we plant with intention, the outcomes are profound. We now have compelling scientific evidence and real-world pilot programs demonstrating that the environments around us shape our health, learning, equity, and social cohesion. The challenge — and the opportunity — ahead is to activate this knowledge at scale through design, policy, funding, and practice. We are deeply grateful to all who brought their insight and imagination to the Salon, and to our generous hosts for making space for this transformative work. This is only the beginning. Next Steps: We're already planning the 2nd Intentional Space Summit, coming to the Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC in 2026. Stay tuned as we continue to grow this critical field of neuroarts.

In this week’s guest blog post, Director of Programming Justin Russo highlights the transformative impact of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function’s Music & Memory—a pioneering program that brings personalized music into dementia care to improve quality of life. Grounded in evidence and delivered across over 5,800 healthcare sites, the program equips care teams to use music personally meaningful to individuals living with dementia as a powerful tool to reduce distress, enhance mood, and strengthen social engagement. From statewide adoption in Wisconsin and Texas to new research showing a strong return on investment, Music & Memory is redefining compassionate, person-centered care through the universal language of music. Read the full article on the NRC here: https://lnkd.in/ejXBf-br