Healing, Bridging, Thriving Summit Agenda

Subject to change.

9:00 a.m.         

Opening Session—Arts and culture can address many aspects of our lives and communities, such as health and well-being, our physical and local infrastructure, and equitable outcomes. This moment represents an historic opportunity to consider the ideas, policies, and actions we can take to better integrate and elevate the arts and humanities throughout our country.

  • Performance by Malik DOPE
  • Remarks by Troy Kotsur, Actor, Oscar Winner, and member of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
  • Welcome by Maria Rosario Jackson, Chair, National Endowment for the Arts 
  • Remarks by Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Biden and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council
  • Remarks by Bruce Cohen, producer, Oscar Winner, and Co-Chair of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
  • Remarks by Jim Canales, President & Trustee, Barr Foundation
  • Remarks by Rep. Chellie Pingree, Congressional Arts Caucus Co-Chair
  • Remarks by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, STEAM Caucus Co-Chair
  • Remarks by Maria Rosario Jackson, Chair, National Endowment for the Arts 

9:45 a.m.

Healing: Arts and Health—Arts are essential for healthy communities and can help to address today’s most pressing community health challenges. This session will include announcements by the National Endowment for the Arts and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  • Remarks by Admiral Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Panel discussion moderated by Admiral Levine, with:
    • Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, Chief Executive & Equity Officer, Ashé Cultural Arts Center
    • Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project
    • Clyde Valentin, Co-Artistic Director, One Nation/One Project
  • Reflection by Renée Fleming, Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health
  • Reflection by Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead, World Health Organization
  • Fireside Chat with U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy and Maria Rosario Jackson, Chair, National Endowment for the Arts

11:00 a.m.

Bridging: Arts and Physical Infrastructure—From planning, to design, to implementation, artists and designers play a crucial role in building inclusive, animated spaces that align with community vision. Recent large federal infrastructure investments represent a historic opportunity to connect and energize communities. This session will include an announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

  • Remarks by Katy Kale, Deputy Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration
  • Remarks by Radhika Fox, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Panel Discussion moderated by Radhika Fox, with:
    • Mike Alexander, Chief Operating Officer, Atlanta Regional Commission
    • Alex Gibson, Executive Director, Appalshop
    • Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, multidisciplinary artist, educator, and member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
  • Fireside chat with Stephen Benjamin, White House Senior Advisor and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, and Mayor Michelle Wu, City of Boston
  • Remarks by Pam Breaux, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

12:15 p.m.

Break

1:30 p.m.

Thriving: Arts, Culture, and Civic Infrastructure—Arts, culture, and the humanities knit the social fabric of our communities and are essential to advancing equitable outcomes. We must develop pathways for artists who are eager to work with other sectors and support them holistically in their endeavors. This session will include an announcement by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

  • Performance by Christopher Kaui Morgan, Christopher K. Morgan & Artists, Malashock Dance, and member of the National Council on the Arts
  • Remarks by Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), Chair, National Endowment for the Humanities
  • Panel discussion moderated by Neera Tanden, White House Domestic Policy Advisor with:
    • Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, President, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
    • Anna Deavere Smith, actress, playwright, and member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
  • Panel discussion moderated by Alaysia Black Hackett, Chief Diversity and Equity Officer, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor, with:
    • Jennifer Dorning, President, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
    • Mayor Lisa Hicks-Gilbert, City of Elaine, Arkansas, and Artists at Work
    • Sanjit Sethi, President, Minneapolis College of Art and Design

3:00 p.m.         

Closing Session

  • Remarks by Douglas Emhoff, Second Gentleman of the United States 
  • Reflection by Marc Bamuthi Joseph, spoken word artist, writer and librettist, and Vice President of Social Impact at the Kennedy Center 
  • Closing remarks by Maria Rosario Jackson, Chair, National Endowment for the Arts

3:45 p.m.         

Adjourn