Inspired by the 1936 Federal Theatre Project where 18 cities and towns presented their own interpretations of the anti-fascist play “It Can’t Happen Here,” Arts for EveryBody will bring together people and communities in 18 cities and towns across America to simultaneously premiere an array of large-scale, site-specific participatory art projects on July 27, 2024, but the journey begins today.
Responding to the prompt “No Place Like Home,” each art project seeks to reflect the unique voice of its community, and through participation, impact the overall health of the community.
Local nonprofit Vibrant Hawai’i will support a year-long fellowship for up to 12 artists to create art that enhances collective well-being, celebrates diverse stories of culture in Hawaiʻi, and builds community resilience and social cohesion. Together, these artists will amplify the unique voices and stories of the Hawaiian people through various art expressions. Artists will also gain access to industry experts in business, planning, marketing and other areas that support their growth as artistic entrepreneurs and working artists.
“Arts for EveryBody is an opportunity to demonstrate to the community how arts can help achieve community healing and well-being. Our hope is that the artists will take what they learn through the one year Fellowship to help create social connectedness beyondJuly 2024,” said Janice Ikeda, executive director of Vibrant Hawaiʻi.’ “To ensure representation and inclusion, we are seeking artists of all backgrounds and artistic disciplines, including but not limited to storytelling, visual art, music, theater, and traditional arts. We aim to select one artist from each of our nine county districts.”
Arts for EveryBody is co-directed by national arts leaders Lear deBessonet, Nataki Garrett and Clyde Valentin and seeks to bring about a new awareness around the value arts can have on the health of people and their community.
deBessonet, Garrett and Valentin see Arts for EveryBody as a breakthrough moment in the relationship between the arts and health in the U.S. America. “Arts for Everybody aims to create an electric new awareness around the value arts can bring to the actual health of people and their community. Our hope is that the Arts for EveryBody experience will spark emotions that connect participants to their communities and each other,” said the co-artistic directors of Arts for EveryBody.
Existing research has already confirmed that taking part in the arts…
- Lowers one’s risk of dementia by 63%
- Offers health benefits comparable to weekly exercise
- Improves physical and mental health
- Can significantly reduce one’s risk of cardiovascular disease
Arts for EveryBody has commissioned a series of new research studies to further examine the connection between arts participation and the health of a community.
To learn more about Hilo.’s project and the entire Arts For EveryBody initiative, visit www.artsforeverybody.org.