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The Impact of Art (Beyond Murals)
The Impact of Art (Beyond Murals)
For far too long, redlined communities have been excluded from the transformative economic and health benefits that come with dedicated spaces for arts and culture. These spaces are not just venues—they are vibrant hubs that reflect the identity and spirit of the communities that create and sustain them. Yet, accessible arts and culture in these neighborhoods have often been confined to Eurocentric values, leaving other cultural expressions overlooked and entire communities currently left as "art deserts."
While public art investments like murals have added visibility to these areas, they lack the depth and sustainability of spaces designed to honor the cultural richness of these communities. As current Mayor of Cleveland Justin Bibb creates plans for a 15 minute city, those plans should include dedicated spaces for arts and culture to be a part of this framework- not as an afterthought, but as a foundation of community well-being and vitality.
This is where The Impact of Art project begins.
This project is currently in the first phase of a larger, multi-faceted initiative advocating for the transformation of Cleveland’s redlined neighborhoods into thriving cultural hubs. It starts by working directly with Cleveland's Southeast communities that are currently art deserts to serve as an example to making the connection between accessible, culturally relevant arts spaces and the health and economic well-being of residents in and around these communities. These insights will lay the groundwork for future phases of documenting the lived experiences of the impact of art while also advocating for the development of dedicated spaces where arts and culture can flourish, reflecting the true diversity of Cleveland’s communities.
The Impact of Art is not just a standalone initiative—it is the beginning of a transformative journey to reimagine what access to arts and culture looks like in historically disinvested neighborhoods where the arts are not treated as a necessity of the human existence.
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Support Community Healing Through the Arts
Support Community Healing Through the Arts
We are seeking donations to fund a powerful documentary “Beyond Murals” that will raise awareness and inspire action on the transformative impact of the arts in communities facing severe health disparities. In Cleveland’s Southeast side neighborhoods where rates of mental health challenges, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses are disproportionately high, access to dedicated spaces for arts, culture, and creativity can be a game-changer.
Our documentary, "The Impact of Art (Beyond Murals)," sheds light on the undeniable link between arts, health, and economic revitalization in historically redlined communities. For well over 70 years some of Southeast Cleveland neighborhoods have lacked dedicated, culturally appropriate, community-owned spaces that foster creativity, wellness, and economic empowerment. Through this film, we will showcase how investment in the arts can reduce health disparities, strengthen local economies, and uplift entire communities.
Imagine a neighborhood where vibrant murals serve as a small portion of the multi-faceted stories of communities that have shown resilience, where music venues and theaters bring people together in joy and healing, where artists’ studios and cultural centers fuel creativity, and where holistic health spaces nurture both body and spirit. This is the future we can build—together
This film will educate, advocate, and ignite change by showcasing how culturally reflective, community-owned creative spaces contribute to better mental and physical health, stronger social connections, and thriving local economies. By investing in the arts, we invest in healing, resilience, and the well-being of entire communities.
Your Support Can Make a Difference
Your donation will help us:
🎥 Produce and distribute this essential documentary to drive awareness and policy change.
🏛️ Highlight real-world success stories of arts-driven health and wellness improvements.
📢 Give a platform to voices within these communities to advocate for the spaces they need.
💡 Push for investment in arts and culture as a core solution for public health and economic revitalization.
Join us in making this film a reality. Donate today and be a part of the movement to build healthier, more vibrant communities through the power of the arts.
10 Quick facts on the impact of art .
10 Quick facts on the impact of art .
Art reduces stress and anxiety in underserved populations: Art programs in historically redlined communities have been shown to reduce stress levels and promote mental well-being by providing safe spaces for creative expression (Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 2016).
Engagement in the arts lowers depression symptoms by up to 25%: Community arts programs have been shown to reduce depression, particularly in low-income and marginalized communities (World Health Organization, 2019).
Arts programs improve youth mental health: Access to art and music education reduces symptoms of trauma and stress in children from under-resourced communities (National Endowment for the Arts).
Cultural spaces address generational trauma: In redlined areas, culturally relevant arts spaces help individuals process generational trauma through storytelling, visual arts, and performance (American Journal of Community Psychology, 2020).
Art enhances community resilience in underserved areas: Participation in arts-based activities fosters emotional resilience, helping individuals cope with the challenges of systemic disinvestment (Journal of Arts and Health, 2018).
Art promotes better physical health outcomes: Engagement in creative arts improves blood pressure, immune responses, and pain management among residents in marginalized communities (Journal of Urban Health, 2020).
Arts initiatives decrease neighborhood violence: Studies show that youth participating in community-based art programs exhibit a 40% reduction in violent behavior and delinquency (Americans for the Arts, 2019).
Public art and greenspaces reduce mental fatigue: Public art in redlined communities contributes to restorative urban environments, reducing cognitive fatigue and improving mood (Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021).
Arts-based therapy supports addiction recovery: Culturally specific art therapy programs have shown to improve addiction recovery rates in historically underserved populations (National Institutes of Health, 2019).
Arts participation combats loneliness: Group art projects build social bonds, reducing isolation by 60% in neighborhoods lacking social infrastructure (Journal of Positive Psychology, 2017).
Check out the following leading experts in the research of arts in health for more information about the impact the Arts have on our human existence:
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