Event Spotlight: National Arts and Health Day
What does it look like to celebrate the vital impact of the arts on community-level well-being? It looks like National Arts and Health Day!
The National League of Cities is celebrating the second annual National Arts and Health Day on July 26, 2025, highlighting the many ways that the arts can measurably improve health and well-being in our communities.
The National League of Cities (NLC) is an association for local governments in the United States, comprised of city, town and village leaders that are focused on improving the quality of life for their current and future constituents. Our mission is to relentlessly advocate for, and protect the interests of, cities, towns and villages by influencing federal policy, strengthening local leadership and driving innovative solutions. NLC has been dedicated to the strength and advancement of local governments for more than 100 years.
At NLC, we’re celebrating National Arts and Health Day by sharing stories from communities across the country that are engaging with the arts as a dimension of health and well-being. Cities like Tampa, Florida; Loveland, Colorado; and Providence, Rhode Island are demonstrating how local governments can partner with artists to increase community well-being through public art, hospital partnerships, and in public housing.
This work is happening in cities of all sizes – from towns of 700 to cities with more than a million residents, local governments are supporting art and creativity with health and well-being in mind. NLC’s guide Creativity and Collaboration for Healthier Cities is a resource that provides in-depth descriptions of some of these program models along with process guides for setting up successful cross-sector partnerships.
As we lift up examples of programs and policies that connect the arts and local well-being, the importance of scientific evidence to inform real-world practices is more vital than ever. That’s why the Neuroarts Resource Center (NRC) is so significant.
The NRC is an exciting tool for policymakers and programmatic innovators to connect with the established body of evidence connecting the arts to well-being, as well as to keep abreast of the latest data, research, and policymaking tools at this intersection. The NRC also allows policymakers to connect to the researchers themselves, making the “research to practice” connection more possible than ever before.
That’s why we want to hear from you! Join us on the Arts and Health Day “Arts Activation” discussion thread on the NRC Community Bulletin Board to share how you’re activating the arts in your practice, research, or institution in honor of #ArtsHealthDay25. Whether it’s a new study, a public event, creative health program, policy initiative, or personal reflection — your contribution helps amplify the role of the arts in healing, well-being, and belonging. Share your Arts in Health Day Arts Activation here!
