Community Neuroarts Coalitions (CNCs) are local evidence-to-impact collaborations of diverse stakeholders who engage the power of the arts and aesthetic experiences to improve the health, wellbeing, cohesion and resilience of their communities. CNCs harness the transformative power of the arts – grounded in neuroscience – to advance health, wellbeing, and social cohesion. 

By integrating evidence-based arts practices with inclusive, cross-sector partnerships, CNCs can develop sustainable, community-led solutions that are locally relevant, fostering meaningful impact. Straddling both rigorous evidence and community-building activities, these interdisciplinary, cross-sector teams bring together health, art and community-based practitioners and organizations with researchers, educators, and clinicians, and their affiliated institutions, to advance evidence-based arts research and practice.

The NeuroArts Blueprint has stewarded the establishment of the Global Community Neuroarts Coalitions Network. As an umbrella for the local alliances whose efforts are informing clinical and community best practices, the Network is a foundational cornerstone to build the neuroarts field.

A framework to enable local partners to identify measurable outcomes and pursue impact, Community Neuroarts Coalitions recognize what the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has highlighted as the synergistic relationship between science and the arts (Chapline & Johnson 2016). In its Guide to Community-Engaged Research in the Arts and Health, the NEA states that researchers stand to gain from partnering with “arts professionals,” because they “often witness first-hand the effects of their artistic practice on individuals, on groups, and on whole communities. Because they are experts in their fields, arts professionals likely will have insights into what types of arts programs or interventions work best in which settings and for whom.”

By engaging valued local assets and generating actionable knowledge, community-based participatory research provides a strength-based tool for building evidence. Community-driven evidence building is a particularly apt model for arts-and-health knowledge because it acknowledges and builds upon the unique skills, expertise, and experiences of a community.

Core Principles

The Blueprint team has identified three core principles to guide the development of CNCs: 

First, these coalitions will be inclusive and welcoming, reflecting the diversity of the population and artistic expression of their community. Each community will draw on its own unique history and resources.

Second, each coalition will be interdisciplinary and cross sectoral and include active participation from:

• Researchers, including cognitive, psychological, public health, neuroscience and clinical researchers, and others affiliated with research institutions.
• Health practitioners, including creative arts therapists, psychologists, neurologists, public health professionals, social workers, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.
• Community arts and cultural organizations and artists, including those who advocate for cultural equity and art engagement at the community and individual level.
• Educators, including those from schools and universities that are developing educational pathways in science, health, and the arts as well as those who use the arts in learning and strengthening social and emotional development.
• Private sector champions, including those interested in expanding wellness opportunities in their communities.
• Public sector champions, including those seeking to improve community wellbeing, health and learning by integrating arts into all policies.

Third, each coalition will identify its own goals in pursuit of health and well-being and decide which local stakeholders—such as research institutions, arts and cultural organizations, or health care providers—will anchor the effort. Each coalition will also determine its own evidence strategy and impact measures in collaboration with the Blueprint.  

Potential Benefits of CNCs

Enhanced Community Health and Wellbeing
CNCs use evidence-based arts interventions to improve both physical and mental health outcomes, promoting holistic wellbeing across diverse populations.

Science-Backed, Arts-Based Solutions
Grounded in neuroaesthetics, CNCs apply cutting-edge research to demonstrate how artistic experiences can positively impact the brain and behavior.

Inclusive, Cross-Sector Collaboration
CNCs unite stakeholders from health, science, education, business, government, and the arts, fostering comprehensive, community-driven solutions.

Culturally Relevant and Locally Rooted Programs
By using community-based participatory research (CBPR) and local asset mapping, CNCs ensure interventions are shaped by and tailored to the specific needs and strengths of each community.

Community Empowerment and Ownership
CNCs promote local leadership, co-creation, and sustainability through collaborative design and implementation strategies that prioritize community voices.

Accelerated Knowledge Sharing and Peer Learning
CNCs create a learning network that supports peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, strengthening local initiatives through shared expertise and insights.

Scalable and Replicable Model
With its foundation in best practices, adaptable frameworks, and economic impact models, the CNC framework can be scaled to diverse communities globally, promoting a broader culture of well-being through the arts.

Creation of Tools and Best Practices for Broader Impact
Systematic data collection and synthesis lead to the development of toolkits, resources, economic impact models, and case studies that benefit other communities and stakeholders.

Elevated Public Awareness and Understanding
Community-wide events and educational initiatives raise awareness of the neuroscience of art and its relevance to everyday health and wellbeing.

Stronger Civic Engagement and Social Cohesion
By engaging diverse community members in shared creative experiences, CNCs foster social connection, empathy, and collective action.

Evidenced-based Strategies to Inform Public Policy
CNCs can serve as a key local resource for public policymakers seeking to integrate evidence-based strategies into community solutions to improve and well-being.

Enhanced Fundraising Capacity
Presenting a community-driven, coordinated and evidence-based approach to community health and wellbeing strengthens the ability to raise public and private dollars.

Beginning to Build a Community Neuroarts Coalition

Led by a core anchor organization, a CNC emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and reflection to make a meaningful impact. Just as every community is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all way to build a CNC. 

We created this checklist based on what worked well in our three pilot programs. If you are excited to get started, review the list and then, when you’re ready, reach out to us to discuss how to create a CNC in your area and join the Network.

1. Lay a Strong Foundation for Your CNC

• Do you have a leader from a core organization who is passionate about the CNC’s goals and has the capacity to build a program?
• Do you have a coordinator to manage the day-to-day operations of the CNC?
• Can you convene an advisory team/steering made up of 3-5 trusted members with different perspectives and backgrounds?
• Have you identified potential funding sources to support your work?
• Are you ready to recruit diverse members from various fields (e.g., arts, health, research education) to create buy-in and learn insights from the community?
• Have you gathered a clear picture of your community’s strengths and needs (e.g., through Asset Mapping)?
• Does your coalition reflect the unique strengths of your community?

2. Define Your CNC’s Mission and Vision

• Have you written a mission and vision statement that reflects your community’s needs, assets, and aspirations?
• Do you have clear, achievable goals that address the identified needs for the first year?

3. Create a Plan to Activate Your Goals

• Do you have a timeline and action plan to guide your work and keep you on track for the first year?

4. Develop a Communications Plan

• How have you planned how to keep your community informed and engaged in your CNC’s activities?

5. Collect and Share Evidence of Your Impact

• Are you thinking about how to collect stories and evidence from your programs to share with your community?

By using these steps as a guide, you will be on your way to creating a dynamic, community-driven CNC that helps improve lives through the power of the arts.

Learn more about the Pilot CNCs

• New York, New York
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Palm Beach, Florida

For more information, view this webinar featuring the New York City and West Palm Beach CNCs.