The Indy Arts Council is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a non-matching grant of $150,000 to expand the Arts For Awareness program, which supports local arts organizations in developing and implementing arts-based substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, education, and recovery programs in Marion County, Indiana. This is one of nine projects the NEA is supporting that demonstrate promising local arts and cultural approaches that address social connection, belonging, and mental health through the arts. In addition to receiving funding for their project, each grant recipient will also participate in opportunities to share best practices and learn from other organizations doing similar work.
“Belonging and social connection are increasingly understood as vital to the health and well-being of both individuals and communities,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “I am excited for this opportunity to broaden our understanding of the many different ways arts participation can contribute to advancing this work, while also displaying the power of cross-sector partnerships.”
In 2023, the Surgeon General released an advisory warning about the adverse health effects of loneliness and social isolation. Recently-released NEA research showed that Americans who participated in the arts were more likely than non-arts participants to engage in activities that build community and social connections—and they were often less likely to report feeling lonely in general.
These grants are part of the NEA’s Arts, Health, and Well-being Pilot Initiative that was announced by Chair Jackson at Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities, an event co-hosted by the White House Domestic Policy Council and National Endowment for the Arts earlier this year.
Indianapolis is home to a wealth of art experiences that support health outcomes, including landmark art and performances in healthcare spaces and art therapy in higher education programs. However, these efforts often operate independently, limiting their collective impact. The Arts for Awareness project aims to connect these disparate elements, creating a more cohesive and collaborative network. By bringing together municipal and community health partners, arts organizations, and artists for 4-5 learning and advisory meetings in 2025-2026, piloting new arts and substance use disorder (SUD) projects, and conducting research to develop case studies, the project will explore the structures and support needed to expand art-and-health initiatives across the city.
For more information on the other Arts, Health, and Well-being demonstration projects, visit arts.gov/news.
Photo: “Self Love” (2024) by Israel Solomon
