Bridges to Possibilities: Arts and the Built Environment

The arts have the power to transcend boundaries and communicate across diverse landscapes, serving as bridges that connect individuals, communities, and cultures. Whether through visual art, music, or storytelling, the arts can forge connections, dissolve barriers, and contribute to the rich fabric of our collective human experience. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)—known for its role as convener, connector, and catalyst—is not just a funder, but a national resource for the arts. The NEA is committed to supporting artists, culture bearers, and arts organizations that are stepping outside of their traditional lanes and working alongside government officials, farmers, doctors, architects, and more. Against the backdrop of recent federal infrastructure investments, the arts and cultural sector is seizing the opportunity to forge connections in communities around the nation through the collaborative efforts of artists, community stakeholders, and designers.

On January 30, 2024, the White House Domestic Policy Council and the NEA co-hosted Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities. This landmark event convened government officials, policymakers, artists, advocates, academics, and leaders, all driven by a collective commitment to unlock the transformative potential of arts and culture. The summit also served as a hub for groundbreaking ideas, nurturing discussions that explored how arts organizations and artists can contribute to individual and community health, as well as breathe life into physical spaces and champion equitable outcomes. As NEA Chair Jackson noted in her remarks at the summit, “Last spring, when honoring recipients of the National Medal of Arts and the National Medal of Humanities, President Biden referred to artists as truth tellers, bridge builders, and change seekers. And I can’t think of an area of policy or practice that wouldn’t benefit from truth tellers, bridge builders, and change seekers.”

This edition of American Artscape will delve into the intersection of arts and physical infrastructure, exploring the pivotal role artists and designers play in shaping inclusive and vibrant spaces. From the planning phase to design and implementation, this issue will spotlight how artists and arts organizations contribute to the development of spaces that resonate with community vision. These stories illuminate the impact of the arts and physical infrastructure in cultivating not only robust and flourishing communities, but resilient and empowered individuals who are daring to dream big and, as Chair Jackson said at the summit, “stand in the space of possibility.”