Health and Wellness Through the Arts
The Wyoming Arts Council’s Health and Wellness Through the Arts program supports individuals and communities across the state by integrating the arts into health-based initiatives. This program connects artists, arts organizations, and healthcare providers to deliver creative experiences that improve physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being.
Whether managing chronic illness, recovering from trauma, living with a disability, or seeking improved quality of life, participating in the arts has been shown to significantly enhance wellness at every stage of life.
Why It Matters
New research from the National Endowment for the Arts highlights that participation in the arts is directly linked to stronger social connections and a deeper sense of belonging. Adults who regularly engage in the arts—whether through attending performances, making art, or participating in cultural activities—report higher levels of community trust, increased volunteerism, and reduced feelings of loneliness. These findings reinforce the essential role the arts play in supporting not just individual wellbeing, but also the health and cohesion of entire communities.
Read more about this research.
Creative Aging in Wyoming Communities
To support the sustainability of creative aging programs across the state, the Wyoming Arts Council offers grants and training opportunities for libraries and community partners. Through a partnership with Wyoming State Library and Lifetime Arts, librarians and teaching artists can participate in professional development that equips them to lead high-quality, sequential arts instruction for older adults.
Following the training, libraries are eligible to apply for funding to implement these programs in their communities. These opportunities are designed to foster meaningful arts engagement, strengthen intergenerational connections, and improve overall well-being among Wyoming’s older adult population.
Lifetime Arts is a national leader in creative aging, dedicated to integrating arts education into the lives of older adults. Through initiatives like “Creative Aging in the West,” they collaborate with state agencies, libraries, and community organizations to implement arts programs that enhance the well-being of seniors. These programs are designed to foster social connections, improve health outcomes, and enrich the lives of participants across various communities. Lifetime Arts provides training, resources, and support to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of creative aging programs nationwide.
This work is supported by the Wyoming Community Foundation’s McMurry Library Endowment Fund and the May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust.
Explore Our Creative Aging Playlist on YouTube
The Wyoming Arts Council’s Creative Aging Playlist highlights artist-led programs, workshops, and performances designed to engage older adults in meaningful, creative experiences. These videos showcase the power of the arts to inspire connection, wellness, and lifelong learning.
Watch the full playlist on our Wyoming Arts Council YouTube Channel.
Arts and Vaccine Confidence Initiative
In 2021, the Wyoming Arts Council received funding from the CDC Foundation to promote public health through the arts. Four Wyoming-based artists created original work reflecting their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic to help build vaccine confidence:
- Jared Rogerson – Country musician, Pinedale
- Jasmine Pickner Bell and the North Bear Singers – Hoop dance and traditional drum group, Riverton
- Rose Pecos-SunRhodes and Jared SunRhodes – Creative writing and ledger art, Fort Washakie
- Janissa Marie Analissia Martinez – Literary artist, Laramie
Each artist received a $10,000 grant to produce their work. View the full project here.
Survey of Wyoming’s Health and Wellness Through The Arts Interest and Activities
Resources and Support for Arts & Health Initiatives
The Wyoming Arts Council provides resources and connections to support arts engagement in health, aging, and accessibility:
- Lifetime Arts’ Creative Aging Roster of trained teaching artists available for community-based programs across the state.
- Creative Aging Project Grant Opportunities for libraries and organizations to fund creative aging classes and artist residencies.
- Lifetime Arts’ Creative Aging Foundations on Demand
- Professional Development through partnerships with national leaders like Lifetime Arts and the National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military.
- VSA – Arts and Disability’s accessibility resources for making the arts more inclusive to people with disabilities, older adults, veterans, and institutionalized populations.
For more information, contact Josh Chrysler, Folklorist & Health and Wellness Specialist at (307) 256-2010 or joshua.chrysler@wyo.gov.
