Arts and Well-Being Series, Part One: What Research Reveals About the Arts’ Profound Impact on Our Lives

At the Onion Foundation, we prioritize two sectors that enrich lives throughout Maine: the arts and the environment. In both areas, we’ve seen organizations work hard to expand access to the experiences, activities, and social movements that instill joy and resilience across communities.

For many people, connecting with nature is an integral part of life here in Maine. People of all ages and backgrounds head outdoors to improve their physical, mental, and emotional health, leading to a more connected and vibrant culture.

Like many people and organizations across the state, we know that access to the arts can bring similar individual and communal benefits, and we therefore actively advocate for a similar societal embrace of arts programs. We’ve seen firsthand how participating in arts experiences not only improves our capacity for compassion and connection, but also boosts our physical and mental health in very real ways.

The Remarkable Effects of Art on the Human Experience

Decades of research, it turns out, back up our personal experiences. Studies show that art is fundamental to the human experience, helping us better understand each other and ourselves. It’s a cornerstone of a compassionate civilization and offers numerous overall health benefits to individuals and communities. Here’s a look at what the research has to say.

Individual Impact

In 2021, researchers reviewed 44 previous studies on the benefits of the arts on individual well-being — and they found consistencies across the analyses. Access to music, dance, and theater, the review found, brings a host of psychological, physical, and social benefits. Observing or participating in arts experiences can improve self-esteem and help individuals better understand their own identities.

An American Medical Association study found similar results related to individuals’ mental and emotional health. Looking at visual art, the study found, produces a similar effect as looking at a loved one, increasing blood flow and dopamine levels by nearly 10%. Another study found that simply drawing on paper — regardless of individual skill — can significantly improve one’s memory.

The benefits of arts experiences are even further amplified for children. A study from the Houston Education Research Consortium found that kids exposed to the arts perform better on tests, demonstrate greater classroom engagement, and show more compassion for their classmates. Similarly, University College London research concluded that students who participate in arts activities have reduced rates of substance use and diagnosed antisocial behavior later in life.

The benefits of arts experiences extend to our physical health in tangible ways as well. Creating art for just 45 minutes can drastically lower cortisol levels, our main stress hormone, one study found. And participating in music therapy, another found, helps reduce pain and anxiety.

Communal Impact

Collectively, these studies — and so many more — show that the arts can ultimately boost our cognitive skills, our sense of self, and our physical well-being.

But the arts don’t just improve our individual lives. They also help us forge stronger, more empathetic communities. Just look at the research: After watching a live play, concert, or art performance, a 2021 study found, 82% of attendees reported feeling more connected to those around them.

Another comprehensive mixed-methods study demonstrated that the arts promote social cohesion and multiculturalism. Dance, music, theater, and literature proved to be highly effective vehicles for conveying cultural narratives and histories. What’s more, the study showed that people who engaged in these experiences demonstrated greater compassion and respect for those of differing cultural backgrounds. Similarly, People United found that access to the arts improved children’s empathy and reduced bias toward others.

The arts are more than simply hobbies or practices. They’re channels for cultural exchange and strengthened understanding. And they’re also vital to a community’s economic well-being. In the United States, for example, the arts comprise a $919.7 billion value — a staggering 4.3% of the nation’s economy — and support 5.2 million jobs.

Three Maine Organizations Expanding Access to the Arts

Countless organizations throughout the world are finding innovative ways to bring arts experiences to more communities and help individuals realize the benefits they offer. In Maine, we support a number of these nonprofits, many of which encourage residents and visitors to engage in the state’s rich arts culture.

As part of our ongoing article series on the significant impact art has on individuals and communities, we’ll explore some of these organizations in depth. Here’s a brief glimpse of just a few of them.

H.O.M.E.

Since 1970, Homeworkers Organized for More Employment (H.O.M.E.) has led a number of initiatives to help unhoused and low-income individuals in Hancock County access food, shelter, creativity, and work. The organization offers creative studios through which people struggling financially can learn an artistic skill, such as stained glasswork, woodwork, stitchery, weaving, pottery, and more. Participants can then sell their creations in H.O.M.E.’s retail stores, which offer earning potential alongside opportunities to purchase goods at a low cost.

H.O.M.E. values access to creativity as much as it values its food pantry, soup kitchen, child care, and shelter services, emphasizing how foundational artistic expression is to human development and resilience.

In fact, the organization sees creativity as a vehicle for self-expression, confidence building, and empowerment. As participants explore artistic making through H.O.M.E.’s programs, they gain a greater sense of social connection and belonging. While food, shelter, and other necessities are fundamental to survival, art offers restorative self-expression that helps H.O.M.E. participants thrive.

ArtVan

As its name suggests, ArtVan brings creative lessons and art therapy directly to the people. Founded in 2004, the ArtVan team has been rolling into neighborhoods, schools, and community centers throughout midcoast Maine in a brightly colored 15-passenger van, teaching young people about watercolor, oil, clay, and other art mediums. The organization also partners with local groups to design custom art therapy programs for the youth in their service.

Focusing primarily on art therapy, ArtVan’s programming is specifically designed to help young participants explore personal and cultural issues via creative arts. In addition to learning to manage their emotions, work through trauma, and collaborate with others, young folks use art as a mode of understanding traumatic societal events, such as the Lewiston shooting or widespread floods that have affected them and their families.

By tapping into these events and giving young people a safe space to express and explore their feelings, ArtVan demonstrates the significant impact arts can have on our emotional and mental health.

Maine Inside Out

Like ArtVan, Maine Inside Out uses art to help participants explore social issues, better understand their lived experiences, and foster belonging. Through the program, which was founded in 2008, young students, incarcerated individuals, and Maine community members learn to create and enact original plays to share their personal stories. These powerful — and empowering — performances generate important conversations that bridge gaps between different personal or cultural backgrounds.

As an equity-focused organization, Maine Inside Out works specifically with those often left out of artistic programs, including young people in the foster care system, incarcerated individuals, people with mental health conditions, people living in poverty, and more. As such, the organization fosters a culture of belonging, using art and theater as a way of inspiring compassion and creating avenues for profound connection.

Harnessing the Power of the Arts

H.O.M.E., ArtVan, and Maine Inside Out are just three of many organizations in Maine that embrace the power of artistic expression for improving individual well-being and building a stronger, more just society. These nonprofits recognize the benefits the arts offer and work to expand access to arts experiences that enrich lives.

At the Onion Foundation, we’re committed to shining a light on grantees and advocacy initiatives that are working hard to create a collective, dynamic vision for the arts sector in Maine. Follow this article series to learn more about these critical arts organizations and how they transform art practice into life-enhancing experiences.