Global Digital Platform Will Be A Central Hub for Research, Resources, and Community in the Neuroarts Field
Contact: Eric Baker
Media Relations Manager
eric.baker@aspeninstitute.org
The Aspen Institute
Washington, DC, May 5, 2025 – Today marks the launch of the Neuroarts Resource Center (NRC), a groundbreaking global digital platform created by the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative, a partnership between Johns Hopkins University’s International Arts + Mind Lab and the Aspen Institute’s Health, Medicine & Society program. The NRC is designed to unite diverse fields, people, and organizations passionate about the intersection of arts, aesthetics, and their impact on health, well-being, learning, and community development. It serves as a central meeting place where researchers, artists, clinicians, policymakers, and enthusiasts worldwide can connect, share knowledge, and foster collaboration – all in commitment to build the field of neuroarts. Neuroarts is an interdisciplinary field, rooted in the science of neuroaesthetics, which explores how the arts and aesthetic experiences change the brain, body, and behavior and how this knowledge can be applied to advance health and wellbeing and society.
The Neuroarts Resource Center offers a comprehensive and continually updated collection of neuroarts-related resources, including the latest research, best practices, funding opportunities, and career postings. Its fully indexed and searchable interface allows users to easily find the information they need. The platform also features a lively community bulletin board and a social media feed to facilitate real-time engagement and the sharing of developments across the globe.
“The first-of-its-kind, the Neuroarts Resource Center is a global platform where people passionate about the arts and aesthetics come together in service of humanity. There’s already so much powerful research and innovative practice happening in neuroarts, but when we share, learn, and collaborate, the impact is magnified,” said Susan Magsamen, executive director of the Johns Hopkins International Arts + Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics and co-director of the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative. “The NRC will amplify that collective energy to drive real change across disciplines, communities, and lives.”
Unique to the NRC is its dynamic, living resource nature. The platform is fueled by user-generated content, constantly evolving with contributions from the community and moderated by the NeuroArts Blueprint team. This makes it a unique repository, publishing platform, real-time mapping tool of the growing field, and a vibrant social network.
Ruth Katz, executive director of the Health, Medicine & Society Program at the Aspen Institute, who also co-directs the Initiative said “As the anchor for the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative, the Resource Center will be a vital asset for breaking down siloes and gathering together people across the globe. It is a critical element in building the field of neuroarts.”
To introduce the Neuroarts Resource Center and its key features and benefits, the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative will host a webinar on May 27 at 3pm ET. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the platform’s capabilities and ask questions. Interested individuals can RSVP here.
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About the NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative
The NeuroArts Blueprint Initiative is a partnership between the Johns Hopkins International Arts + Mind Lab (IAM Lab) Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics and the Aspen Institute’s Health, Medicine and Society (HMS) Program. Co-directed by Susan Magsamen, MAS, executive director of IAM Lab, and Ruth J. Katz, JD, MPH, executive director of the HMS Program. The Initiative bridges the gap between the arts and sciences to advance health and wellbeing by promoting innovative research, developing evidence-based practices, and raising public awareness of the arts’ potential to enhance health.