Arts & Wellbeing at the Kennedy Center is an expanded focus on the intersection of the performing arts and science.
In collaboration with partners at The National Institutes of Health, the Sound Health Network, and beyond, Arts & Wellbeing brings together ideas from across the arts and culture sector to highlight how art inspires and benefits our everyday lives.
Illustration by Jovaney Hollingsworth
Arts & Wellbeing
Music for the Collective
Wed. Jan. 15, 2025
In this workshop led by Dr. AZA Allsop and his band, participants will be immersed in a healing listening experience, followed by an interactive demonstration. No prior music training required!
National Symphony Orchestra
Sound Health Friday
Select Fridays at 10 a.m
Join us for Sound Health Fridays at The REACH for activities prior to 11:30 a.m. NSO coffee concerts. Arrive at 9:30 a.m. and purchase coffee at the Hyannis Port Coffee Bar, and wander the REACH. At 10 a.m., participate in a Morning Sing, attend a health-inspired talk and performance, or join a wellness-inspired workshop.
Tragedy + Time:
Michael Cruz Kayne: Sorry for Your Loss
Sat. Jan. 25, 2025
The comedian and writer from The Late Show presents a hilarious, difficult, and touching show about grief. If everyone dies, why does nobody talk about it?
Tragedy + Time:
Nonfiction Tragicomedy Writing with Elissa Bassist
Sun. Mar. 9, 2025
The editor, humor writer, teacher, and author teaches us about “traumedy”—that is, how to make readers laugh while punching them in the heart.
Nourish—Nourishing Mind, Body, and Soul Through the Arts, is a monthlong series of programs throughout October 2024 exploring the profound impact of food and artistic expression on our lives. Nourish, part of the Center’s Arts & Wellbeing programming, marks a significant expansion of the Center's commitment to sharing with audiences how the full spectrum of the arts enhances our holistic wellbeing.
The Sound Health Network, a partnership between the Kennedy Center and National Institute of Health in association with the National Endowment of the Arts, brings together scientists, music therapists, artists, and the public to explore music’s impact on the brain, health, and wellness.
Find out more about Sound Health Network programs at The Kennedy Center.
The Fulbright / Kennedy Center Fellowship for Performing Arts & Science, a component of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program, provides an opportunity for a Fulbright visiting scholar to connect with artists, staff, educators, and audiences at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. This fellowship is made possible through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the Kennedy Center’s departments of International Programming and Arts and Wellbeing.
The Arts & Wellbeing Collection is the Kennedy Center’s curated list of titles focused on the connection between the mind, the body, and the arts.
19-episode series on the intersection of music, neuroscience, and healthcare.
Research and resources on music and childhood development.
Explore our Digital Stage video library of Sound Health Network content.
Arts-centered, standards-based resources for the classroom.
A selection of articles covering current approaches to arts integration in the classroom.
PreK-2 teachers make mindfulness thrive in the classroom when they integrate WORD Movement and practice conscious media selection.
Watch highlights from the 2023 Surgeon General’s Medallion Celebration at the Kennedy Center.
