WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the White House announced a co-hosted, first-of-its kind summit that will recognize the profound impact that arts and culture play in shaping our lives, communities, and nation. "Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities," will take place on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. E.T. in Washington, D.C. and will be available to the public as a livestream at arts.gov. 

This national convening brings together leaders from various sectors, including government officials; policymakers; artists; advocates; academics; and philanthropic, labor, and community leaders to explore ideas, policies, and actions that can elevate the arts and humanities across the nation. In particular, the summit will delve into how the arts contribute to health and well-being, invigorate physical spaces, fuel democracy, and foster equitable outcomes.

The summit will feature a host of prominent and inspirational leaders, changemakers, and artists across sectors who will contribute their insights, including Second Gentleman of the United States Douglas Emhoff, who will share closing remarks. See the full list of speakers and panelists below.

“This historic convening will shine a light on the arts and humanities as critical to restoring the soul of our nation,” said Neera Tanden, domestic policy advisor to President Biden and director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. “At this moment marked by threats to our democracy, the arts and humanities are an asset to our country that allows us to understand each other better. At the summit, I am looking forward to hearing from voices from across the country about how the arts enable communities to thrive.” 

“Art is not just a reflection of our society, it’s an integral part of our evolution as a nation and a source of resilience,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “This groundbreaking summit will underscore the transformative power of the arts in our communities and across areas of policy and practice, exploring how the arts can help support the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities, and our planet. I am excited to bring together leaders to chart a course for harnessing the creative innovation needed to build a stronger, more connected nation.”

This convening builds on momentum from a meeting hosted by the White House Domestic Policy Council and NEA on October 17, 2023, that discussed integrating arts and culture into programs, policies, and practices of federal agencies. It follows an Executive Order on Arts and Humanities signed by President Biden to spur investment and aligning of arts and culture across the federal government.

“Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities” has been made possible through a partnership with the Barr Foundation, as well as the generous support of Good Chaos, The Heinz Endowments, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and The Roundhouse Foundation.

For more information, including how to watch the live webcast, please visit www.arts.gov.

Agenda At-A-Glance

Subject to change. A full agenda and list of speakers will be available in advance of the summit.

Opening session
Remarks by:

• Maria Rosario Jackson, Chair, National Endowment for the Arts
• Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Biden and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council
• Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, STEAM Caucus Co-Chair
• Rep. Chellie Pingree, Congressional Arts Caucus Co-Chair
• Jim Canales, President & Trustee, Barr Foundation
• Bruce Cohen, Producer, Oscar Winner, and Co-Chair of President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

Healing: Arts and Health
Participants include:

• Admiral Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health,  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General
• Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead, World Health Organization
• Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, Chief Executive & Equity Officer, Ashé Cultural Arts Center
• Renée Fleming, Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health
• Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project
• Clyde Valentin, Co-Artistic Director, One Nation/One Project

Bridging: Arts and Physical Infrastructure
Participants include:

• Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, White House
• Robin Carnahan, Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration
• Radhika Fox, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Mike Alexander, Chief Operating Officer, Atlanta Regional Commission
• Pam Breaux, President and Chief Executive Officer,  National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
• Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, multidisciplinary artist, educator, and member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
• Alex Gibson, Executive Director, Appalshop
• Mayor Michelle Wu, City of Boston

Thriving: Arts, Culture, and Civic Infrastructure
Participants include:

• Alaysia Black Hackett, Chief Diversity and Equity Officer, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor
• Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), Chair, National Endowment for the Humanities
• Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, President, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
• Anna Deavere Smith, actress, playwright, and member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
• Jennifer Dorning, President, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
•  Mayor Lisa Hicks-Gilbert, City of Elaine, Arkansas, and Artists at Work
• Christopher Kaui Morgan, Christopher K. Morgan & Artists, Malashock Dance, and member of the National Council on the Arts
• Sanjit Sethi, President, Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Closing session Participants include:

• Douglas Emhoff, Second Gentleman of the United States
• Maria Rosario Jackson, Chair, National Endowment for the Arts
•  Marc Bamuthi Joseph, spoken word artist, writer and librettist, and Vice President of Social Impact at the Kennedy Center  

“Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities” has been made possible through a partnership with the Barr Foundation, as well as the generous support of Good Chaos, The Heinz Endowments, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and The Roundhouse Foundation.