Arts & Health @ NYU is a hub for research and clinical centers across NYU where the physical, mental, and social benefits of the arts are explored.
NYU Theatre and Health Lab
The Theatre and Health Lab is the research hub of the program in Drama Therapy at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. We study how drama therapy and related theatre processes such as imagination, pretend play, improvisation, storytelling, playwriting, acting, and witnessing can facilitate health and wellbeing. As part of our efforts, we document and share therapeutic innovations in drama therapy.
NYU Steinhardt Arts and Humanities Collective
The NYU Steinhardt Arts and Humanities Collective brings together faculty and students across Steinhardt whose work reflects an engagement with the humanities and the arts. This initiative is represented by Jim Fraser (Applied Statistics, Social Science, and Humanities) and Janet Njelesani (Occupational Therapy) and includes colleagues across departments and programs in Steinhardt.
Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy
The Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy We provide a variety of services, including individual music therapy, group music therapy sessions, and specialized music instruction, for people of all ages, with or without disabilities. The Nordoff-Robbins Center conducts research on the creative and developmental processes of music therapy, as well as offers training and resources for current and prospective music therapists.
NYU Creative Arts Therapies Consortium
The NYU Creative Arts Therapies Consortium aims to advance public knowledge and research in the creative arts therapies. Building upon NYU’s historical and well-regarded leadership in the creative arts therapies, this Consortium offers a venue for collaborative inquiry and continuing education about innovations in the arts therapies and the arts in healthcare.
Music and Audio Research Laboratory (MARL)
Music and Audio Research Laboratory brings together scholars from music theory, technology and composition, computer and information science, interactive media and media studies, to explore the intersection between music, computation and science. The objective is to combine techniques and methodologies from the arts, the humanities and the sciences to (a) understand and model human cognitive abilities in music, and (b) innovate the analysis, organization and creation of music.
Verbatim Performance Lab
The Verbatim Performance Lab (VPL) creates verbatim documentary theatre performances and investigates the results with actors and audiences. We perform words and gestures collected from found media artifacts and interview-based data. Through the investigations of these performances, VPL aims to disrupt assumptions, biases, and intolerances across a spectrum of political, cultural, and social narratives.
NYU Langone Art Program
The NYU Langone Art Program and collection integrates artwork of the highest quality into the healing environments of new and recently renovated spaces at NYU Langone. In recent years, art has become increasingly important to many healthcare environments. Studies have shown that art in this setting can improve patients’ overall health outcomes, treatment compliance, and quality of life. Art also helps create a positive environment for caregivers, helping to reduce stress, and for employees, improving overall workplace satisfaction. The NYU Langone Art Program fosters a welcoming, healing environment that supports our mission to treat the whole patient by addressing emotional as well as physical needs.
Advocacy and Community-Based Trauma Studies (ACTS) Lab
Led by Dr. Alisha Ali in the Department of Applied Psychology in NYU Steinhardt, research in the ACTS Lab focuses on treatments and interventions designed to help groups and individuals who have experienced trauma, violence, discrimination, and other forms of oppression. Current studies are in partnership with the DE-CRUIT program which uses techniques from theatre and classical actor training in combination with elements from cognitive and narrative therapy modalities to treat trauma in military veterans.
The Jameel Arts & Health Lab
The Jameel Arts & Health Lab is a global initiative to measurably improve health and wellbeing through the arts. With a focus on overlooked and underserved communities, the Lab leverages scientific evidence, artist-led advocacy, and capacity building to drive the integration of the arts into mainstream healthcare. The Lab was co-founded by WHO Regional Office for Europe, NYU Steinhardt, Community Jameel, and Culturunners.