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creating
healthycommunities2025

With the overarching aim of amplifying the power of arts and culture to connect communities and enhance health and well-being, the Creating Healthy Communities Convening will bring together more than 500 people from across the United States who are thinking, working and innovating at the intersections of arts and culture, public health and community development. 

Set against a vibrant backdrop of arts and cultural practices, the two-and-a-half-day convening will begin with opportunities to engage in arts activities across Newark from NJPAC’s ArtsRx partner organizations, followed by two days of proceedings that will inspire bold ideas and advance progress while highlighting diverse and effective practices, research and policy models from around the world. Designed to foster connection, dialogue, strategic thinking and learning — Creating Healthy Communities is a place for artists, arts organizations, public health and healthcare professionals, civic leaders and community organizers to come together to envision a healthier tomorrow through arts and culture.

Presented by the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine and New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) 

 

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Discounts/Reduced Fees

Use code EARLYBIRD for $70 off.
Early bird pricing ends Jul 18, 2025
For groups of 5 or more, please contact mfinkelstein@njpac.org to inquire about the group rate of $400 per registrant.
Students can register for $250. Please contact mfinkelstein@njpac.org for student pricing.
Reduced fee and no fee registrations are available, click here.

Keynote speakers

Maria Rosario Jackson, Ph.D.
Urban Planning and Cultural Policy Expert
Keynote Speaker
Oct 15

Marc Bamuthi Joseph
Spoken Word Artist | Writer & Librettist | Cultural Strategist
Keynote Speaker
Oct 16

Program at a glance

Goals

  • Convene with colleagues dedicated to creating healthier, more equitable communities through cross-sector collaboration in arts in public health.
  • Learn about the latest research and policy models, diverse and effective practices, and tools to advance the field — with an emphasis on arts prescribing.
  • Engage in dialogue, strategic thinking and learning in a vibrant, arts-infused setting.
  • Build partnerships and networks across diverse fields to address shared goals.

Themes

  • Intersections of Arts and Culture, Public Health and Community Development
  • Understanding Arts Participation as a Health Behavior
  • Establishing Access to the Arts as a Social Determinant of Health
  • Economics of Arts in Health
  • Arts Prescribing in the US

2 – 5 PM
ArtsRx Activities:

  • Opt-In for free arts activities across Newark and Essex County

5:30 – 8 PM
Opening Reception:

  • Dinner and Networking
  • Welcome Remarks

10 – 5:30 PM
Conference Proceedings:

  • Opening Keynote
  • Understanding Arts Participation as a Health Behavior
  • Establishing Access to Arts & Culture as a Social Determinant of Health
  • Breakout Sessions

7:30 – 8:30 PM

  • Carnegie Hall Presents: Wellbeing Concert

8:30 – 3 PM
Conference Proceedings:

  • Keynotes
  • Economic Impact of Arts in Health
  • Arts Prescribing
  • Arts Prescribing Breakout Sessions

3 – 4 PM

  • Open Networking
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FAQ

  • Artists, arts professionals, arts educators, arts activists, creative arts therapists and arts researchers
  • Public health, community health, healthcare, mental health, social services and human services professionals, educators and researchers
  • Local, state and national government workers and policymakers
  • Funders and philanthropists in the arts, public health, healthcare and community development sectors
  • Community members, social change agents, organizers and cultural leaders advocating for the health and well-being of their communities
  • Educators, students and interdisciplinary researchers working at the intersections of arts, health, equity and community

  • By air: Newark International Airport
  • By train: Newark Penn, Broad Street Station
  • By car: Military Park Garage (attendees will receive discounted $3/day parking vouchers)

Find more information about visiting NJPAC here.

A discounted rate of $169+ tax / night is available at TRYP by Wyndham Newark Downtown, which is a short walk from NJPAC.
Discounted rates are available through September 23, 2025 or until rooms sell out, whichever comes first.
Use code 101425CRE when reserving online or by phone. BOOK ROOM HERE

We are offering over 200 reduced and no-fee registrations, made possible by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Pabst Steinmetz Foundation. Find more information and the application here.