Xavier Becerra United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | Official Website
On Thursday, May 16, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra participated in the second meeting of the Federal Interagency Working Group on Arts, Health, and Civic Infrastructure. Founded in 2024, the Working Group facilitates the exchange of insights and information about arts and cultural resources across federal agencies to improve individual and community health.
Secretary Becerra and Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson serve as Co-Chairs of the Working Group. They provided remarks to open the meeting, with Secretary Becerra emphasizing the critical role of the arts in promoting mental health. He thanked Working Group members and Dr. Jackson for their commitment to promoting the arts.
“As we look towards the future, we have the opportunity to weave the power of the arts into our efforts to support a wellness care system,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “We know that arts and culture can have profound impacts on health. Access to the arts is not a luxury; it’s a resource that should be available to all.”
Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson stated, “Through this interagency working group, the NEA is dedicated to advancing understanding of the power of the arts and strengthening their roles in building healthy communities.” She highlighted how artists and cultural institutions can drive meaningful community engagement and promote wellness.
Arts-based approaches are recommended throughout HHS's Equitable Long Term Recovery and Resilience (ELTRR) Plan. On May 7, 2024, SAMHSA announced the launch of the Art of Recovery Project, which showcases how creative expression can aid mental health and substance use recovery.
Since 2017, HHS has funded research on applying arts in health settings through initiatives like Sound Health—a partnership between NIH, John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, NEA—and Sound Health Network which promotes research on music's impact on health.
The NEA’s grantmaking portfolio includes projects integrating arts with strategies promoting community well-being. The Our Town program supports activities that integrate arts into local efforts that strengthen communities with public health strategies.
Participating members represented various agencies including AmeriCorps, FEMA, GSA, IMLS, NEA, NEH, NOAA, NSF among others.
