The arts and sciences are often – incorrectly – viewed as somehow diametrically opposed; evidence shows, however, that uniting the two can be incredibly effective as part of a holistic route to both individual and organisational wellbeing.
Boster Group’s Founder and CEO, Susan Boster, had the pleasure of convening a panel discussion in collaboration with The Female Quotient, exploring the intersection between the arts and sciences, and the benefits of the practical application of the arts in boosting morale, treating physical and mental health conditions and leadership. The panel addressed the lessons that may be learned by applying the arts to leadership, and how the arts may be used to practice empathy, a crucial tool in the cultivation of organisational wellbeing. Susan was joined by two esteemed leaders in the arts: Tamara Rojo, Artistic Director and Lead Principal of English National Ballet, and Renée Fleming, distinguished soprano and Artistic Advisor to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Below are our key takeaways from the conversation, summarising the existing research and exploring the critical role that artistic practice plays in health, resiliency and leadership.
Music and dance have long been a source of joy and positivity for performers and audiences alike. A recurring concept addressed throughout the panel was the undisputed power of the arts in their ability to touch people emotionally, and humanity’s inherent appreciation for creative storytelling. As Renée pointed out, “dance and music are infectious”, capturing our attention and evoking engagement from an early age, as if we are “hardwired” to appreciate them. In these difficult times, music and dance have created a sense of happiness, optimism, and community for many. Tamara, too, spoke about artistic expression as an instinct, referring to creativity as a “human need” and pointing to those who united in song from their balconies in Spain and Italy during lockdown as an illustrative example. According to experts at the English National Ballet, music and dance are also powerful in their ability to help people process or distract from difficult situations, providing catharsis and escapism among other benefits.
The positive impact of the arts is further demonstrated by evidence indicating the tangible impact of music and dance on physical, as well as mental health. During the panel, Renée spoke about Sound Health, an initiative she spearheads in association with the National Endowment for the Arts, which has received support from the National Institutes of Health. The project explores the research and practice at the intersection of music, health and neuroscience, building on music therapy practices and offering curative therapy in a range of healthcare settings – helping patients living with everything from Alzheimer’s and dementia to Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. Renée touched on the fact that musical memory in dementia patients remains robust, despite the impact of Alzheimer’s, underlining the pivotal role of the arts in improving patients’ quality of life. Moreover, evidence shows that music therapy reduces agitation and need for medication in 67% of people with dementia. Tamara, in turn, spoke about Dance for Parkinson’s, a programme developed by the English National Ballet in partnership with researchers from University College and King’s College London which provides high quality dance classes for people with Parkinson’s, their family, friends, and carers. A wider programme of research into this and other applications of the arts for wellbeing is being funded by the Wellcome Trust. The benefits of dance have been clear to see, with participants noting an improvement in motor skills, as well as psychological health.
Another key benefit of the Dance for Parkinson’s initiative is the sense of support, camaraderie and inclusion participants experience through positive social interaction with others, alleviating the feelings of isolation and disempowerment that so often accompany the disease. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this echoes the sense of unity sought by those singing together from their balconies in Europe. The shared experience of performance is a palpable source of comfort and community for many, and in this respect can offer a range of measurable benefits, leading institutions including Kaiser Permanente and the NHS to develop comprehensive social prescription programmes with dedicated arts partners.
To this end, the English National Ballet have taken the Dance for Parkinson’s programme online during the lockdown period to continue to provide patients with this sense of belonging. As Tamara emphasised, “humans are social beings, and we need to share physical experiences”. Renée noted the abundance of people sharing their creative talents online with the world during the pandemic through social media, demonstrating the important role the arts play in cultivating social connection.
The arts address social isolation by bringing people together for this purpose, and technology has been an invaluable tool in facilitating human connection via the arts throughout the social distancing period. Meet Me at the Albany, a programme borne out of a need to address social isolation amongst older members of the Albany Theatre’s Deptford community, engages participants through creative and social activities and has been similarly adapted to suit the current climate. Participants receive regular phone calls from a team of volunteers, and deliveries of creative resources. These examples of creative and innovative community engagement demonstrate the practical and positive societal impact of the arts, and the resiliency of these arts organisations in overcoming the obstacles of the current climate to meet wellbeing needs from both individual and social perspectives.
Dance for Parkinson’s exemplifies Tamara’s approach to leadership, which seeks to address not just the wellbeing of the institution and its members, but of all stakeholders, including the audience and wider community. Unlike many organisations, publicly-funded institutions have an explicit social responsibility to extend outreach and promote social good, including bringing the arts to underrepresented audiences. This inclusive stakeholder ethos informs how Tamara maintains the wellbeing of individual stakeholders as well as the institution – “the more generous you are, the happier you are as artists; the more you give, the more you get.” Tamara’s leadership, in particular, is shaped by her own desire to spread positivity and wellbeing amongst dancers, as well as the community, by engaging with schools, youth companies and the elderly. Crucially, however, it is also shaped by an understanding of the benefits of the practical application of the arts within society.
It may not be obvious how leaders of different organisations – especially those which are more quantitatively-oriented, or lack such an explicit social purpose – can translate that to their own work. Tamara posits that leaders can learn about empathy by thinking of the perspectives of the audience and the performer. Performers, in stepping into the shoes of a character, become one with the character, sharing and understanding the character’s feelings and behaviours. The audience, similarly, practices empathy with the characters from their privileged position as observers, to understand the different perspectives represented by the wider story. This empathetic storytelling practice is by no means limited to the arts, but the arts do offer a straightforward way to access it.
Demonstrating empathy towards the individual members of an organisation, and evaluating many different viewpoints, helps leaders make informed decisions, guided by the perspectives of multiple stakeholders. Empathy is also a strong indicator of emotional intelligence, which multiple studies correlate with successful leadership outcomes. Therefore, by honing their empathetic sensitivity through the arts, leaders from across a variety of organisations can strengthen their management abilities.
Tamara believes that the business world can learn much more from the creative industries, especially during the current pandemic climate. While many private organisations have rushed to integrate new ways of working and adapt to an increased focus on human resiliency, the creative sector has long utilised flexible approaches to working practices, which have been reported to positively affect mental wellbeing. Meanwhile Renée noted that in industries with a quantitative focus – which may be driven more by data than emotional intelligence – it is vital that leaders make time to listen and communicate, translating empathy into the business environment.
The conversation underlined the many benefits of prescribing the arts to aid physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, and highlighted the power of the arts in their ability to evoke joy, facilitate human connection, and inspire empathetic leadership. By integrating artistic practices into their lives, stakeholders of all types can leverage these benefits themselves, especially during the current public health crisis. The positive impact of music and dance is wide reaching, and the arts are a beacon of positivity in these challenging and unprecedented times. Now more than ever it is paramount to ensure that the dialogue between science and creativity, which is proving to be so fruitful, is continued. We are grateful to Renée Fleming and Tamara Rojo for sharing their thoughts and insights with us, and to The Female Quotient for enabling this important discussion.
To watch the full conversation between Susan, Renée and Tamara click here.
To watch Renée’s webinar series, Music and Mind Live, exploring the intersection of arts, music, neuroscience and healthcare click here.
To participate in any of the English National Ballet’s at home classes for all abilities click here.
For more details on Dance for PD, the initiative that inspired English National Ballet’s Dance for Parkinson’s programme, click here.
While the UK is operating under ‘shelter in place’ policies, Boster Group is sharing art and culture to aid and inspire your mental health and wellbeing while working from home. Follow us @BosterGroup on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, or search for our posts using the hashtag #goodmedicine.