Arts Action Heroes to the Rescue!

During my 30 years at Americans for the Arts, I have had the great privilege to visit and learn about a different community nearly every week. While they differ vastly from one another, there is one common strength I have observed: the arts have made a profound impact on the health of each community.

Across America, in communities of all sizes, a rising population of arts action heroes -- both individuals and organizations -- are stepping up, armed with the tools of their craft and a vision of how their work in the arts contributes to the well-being of a community.

Vijay Gupta, first violinist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is a passionate advocate for the presence of music in marginalized and underserved communities. He founded Street Symphony, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing live music to people living in homeless shelters and incarcerated in LA County jails. Bringing music to these groups has a powerful humanizing effect, helping some of those who are most vulnerable feel safe.
 

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