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The world is facing a growing mental health crisis. The arts are proving to be a powerful force for healing and connection.

As the world faces a growing mental health crisis, the arts are proving to be a powerful force for healing and connection. Research has consistently shown that creative expression is more than just a pastime — it’s a vital tool for emotional well-being. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), engaging in the arts can reduce stress, improve cognitive function and lower the risk of depression and anxiety by up to 30%. Whether through visual arts, theater, literature or music, creative activities have been linked to stronger immune responses, faster recovery from illness and even increased life expectancy. Given these profound benefits, ensuring that everyone — regardless of age, mobility or socioeconomic status — has access to the arts is more important than ever.

At Arts Garage, a visual and performing arts venue in Delray Beach, we believe in the transformative power of the arts and are committed to making them accessible to those who need them most. One of our key initiatives in this mission is our Artists-in-Residence (AiR) Series, funded by the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County’s Cultural Arts & Education Fund. This program brings arts and cultural enrichment to youth, underserved community members, and seniors — populations that often face barriers to arts engagement.

Bringing joy and connection to older adults

For older adults, regular participation in the arts has been linked to positive health outcomes, including reduced loneliness and depression. Aging can bring a sense of loss — of purpose, of physical ability, and, for some, of loved ones. According to The Creativity and Aging Study conducted by George Washington University, arts provide a source of joy, connection and even cognitive benefits. A simple song, for example, can unlock long-lost memories for individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia, offering moments of clarity and happiness — something I personally witnessed with my own mother.

To support seniors in our community, Arts Garage hosted an Exclusive Pre-show Rehearsal & Talkback with Jazz sensation Nicole Henry, welcoming fixed-income seniors from Pompey Park Seniors Club, the Boynton Beach Senior Advisory Board and our own dedicated senior volunteers. More recently, we launched “GROOVE with Karen,” a program designed to bring music, dance and culture directly to veterans, active seniors, individuals with mobility challenges and those living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Research shows that activities like dancing, playing an instrument and reading lower the risk of dementia. And according to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, older adults who engage in at least 11 cognitive or physical activities per month are 63% less likely to have dementia.

Empowering youth through the arts

Arts education is equally critical for young people, helping them develop emotional resilience, cope with challenges and build empathy. Studies from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) show that at-risk students with access to the arts — both in and out of school — tend to achieve better academic results, secure stronger workforce opportunities and engage more actively in their communities.

With this in mind, we hosted an Arts & Culture Series: African Storytelling, Crafts, Songs & Dance featuring Baba Adekemi Lyon. This immersive program, designed to inspire and empower underserved youth, provided dynamic cultural experiences to 28 local children (ages 5-12) from the City of Delray Beach Parks & Recreation Department’s Out of School aftercare program at Pompey Park Community Center.

At Arts Garage, we are dedicated to ensuring that the arts remain accessible to all, no matter their circumstances. We invite you to join us in this mission — whether by supporting our programs, attending our events or simply spreading the word. Together, we can create a community where the arts foster mental well-being, build connections, and shape brighter futures for those who need them most.

Marjorie Waldo is President & CEO of Arts Garage, a Visual & Performing Arts venue, located in Delray Beach, that connects the community to the world through the arts. Learn more at www.artsgarage.org.