Introducing Arts + Wellness: A New, Impactful Initiative

Arts NC State is excited to launch Arts + Wellness, a new initiative dedicated to exploring the powerful connections between creative expression and personal and community well-being. Designed as a bridge between the university’s vibrant arts community and its robust wellness network, Arts + Wellness creates opportunities for students, faculty, staff and community members to engage with the arts as a tool for reflection, restoration and connection. 

Beginning with a mix of interactive events, performances and resource-sharing, Arts NC State aims to bring together campus partners in a shared commitment to whole-person wellness. 

Signature Events

Thursday, April 10: Arts + Wellness Fair at LIVE@Lake Raleigh Concert

Arts NC State and Campus Health have partnered to host an Arts + Wellness Fair on Thursday, April 10, in conjunction with the opening night of the LIVE@Lake Raleigh free concert series. Attendees can enjoy a beautiful evening outdoors while connecting with wellness resources.

Several organizations will be on-site beginning at 5 p.m. to offer hands-on activities, wellness-themed crafts and take-home resources, including NC State’s Campus Health, Prevention Services, Counseling Center, Wellness and Recreation, along with Campus Nature Rx.

“It’s so great to join forces with Arts NC State to showcase the physical and mental benefits that the arts can have on our everyday wellness,” said Dan Passonno, health educator for NC State Campus Health. “Wellness should be fun and accessible, and Campus Health and the partners participating in this Arts + Wellness Fair have a lot to offer our Wolfpack community to empower them to maintain their personal and holistic well-being.”

Friday, April 11: Final Session of the Challenging Times Series

In uncertain and changing times, art and creative thinking can play critical roles in helping us reflect on the world’s complexities while fostering dialogue. The Challenging Times Series: Connecting Through Creativity and Conversation is a free class that offers participants a space to create art while discussing various topics. In the final spring session, participants will create a vision board while reflecting on their achievements from this school year and contemplating directions for their future. 

Sunday, April 13: Raleigh Civic Symphony Orchestra’s “Hymns of Hope and Healing” Concert

Another signature event of the Arts + Wellness initiative takes place on Saturday, April 13, with Raleigh Civic Symphony Orchestra’s performance of  Hymns of Hope and Healing at Stewart Theatre. Centered around music’s capacity to soothe, inspire and unify, this special concert invites audiences to experience the healing power of the arts firsthand.

“The concert views mental health through the unique eyes of composers, performers, visual artists and choreographers,” said Peter Askim, director of Orchestral Studies and conductor of the Raleigh Civic Symphony and Chamber Orchestra. “In addition to the music of Rachmaninoff and Beethoven, I am beyond excited to welcome three living composers whose work delves deep into the emotional and healing powers of music. Along with their music, we will also be experiencing the powerful emotional artistry of Olga Kleankina, Tara Z. Mullins and Carol Fountain Nix. It will be a deeply inspiring program of the ability of the arts to give us both healing and hope.” 

Ahead of the performance, a pre-concert Arts + Wellness Resource Fair will welcome concertgoers to engage with wellness organizations, gather helpful materials and participate in relaxing activities designed to set a reflective tone for the evening. Activities will include the Crafts Center’s My Intent Project and a participatory drum circle.

Ongoing through September 27: Your Brain on Art Exhibition

The exhibit Your Brain on Art: Reimagining the Gregg Museum Collection, inspired by the transformative findings of Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross’s best-selling book, “Your Brain on Art,” invites visitors to explore the Gregg Museum of Art & Design through the lens of Neuro-arts. Immerse yourself in meditation, drawing and sound activities while viewing artworks that punctuate the impact of art on sensory experiences and holistic well-being.

More Impact on the Horizon

Longer-range plans for the Arts + Wellness initiative include expanding on the Curricular Connections work that Arts NC State has done for more than 20 years: partnering with faculty to overlay experiential learning into academic courses by finding timely, relevant connections between a class’s subject and the visual and performing arts happening across campus. One recent example highlights the use of theater productions to explain scientific topics. Through these connections, the arts help make any subject feel more tangible and immediate – offering students a sensory, emotional entry point that deepens understanding and engagement. 

“I am passionate about the high-impact experiences that the arts can provide to students and the community,” said Michelle Hayford, associate dean of University College and executive director of Arts NC State. “It’s through interdisciplinary initiatives like Arts + Wellness that Arts NC State can not only enrich the lives of students, but create meaningful impact for them by encouraging critical inquiry, empathy and dialogue through immersive experiences with the arts.”

Stay Connected

Whether you’re a student looking for moments of calm between classes or a community member seeking new ways to engage with the arts, Arts + Wellness offers something for everyone. Don’t miss signature events this April, and follow along with upcoming opportunities to connect, reflect and restore at go.ncsu.edu/artsandwellness.