The business and practice of art-making in society

*This article is modified from a speech given during LOUD Art Society's 10th Anniversary Gala*

I started out advocating for the arts' role in the healing process. Now I speak to art as a catalyst, for the sacred engine that empowers us to make sense and meaning of the world as we perceive it. The Foundation serves the community, teaching mental health literacy and supporting healthy brain development through arts and culture initiatives. Shifting the conversation from data designed to downplay the impact to language that highlights the benefits in relation to our humanity, economy, and health indexes.

We are limited by our imaginations, our experiences, and what we observe and learn. Yet, there are over 9 billion perspectives on this planet, representing 9 billion different combinations of experiences with love, family, money, the land, and society. No two are identical. This is the gift that we have. Through art and culture, we can witness a shared experience across time and space, across gender and ethnicity, and across diverse beliefs. We can feel seen and be seen. Feel heard and be listened to. And every time that we feel that recognition, our hearts soften a bit. We become more open to the possibility that life can happen for us, not to us. We see beyond the limits of the cages that contain us. As artists, none are better at capturing the possibilities that live on the horizon of what is. Because if we only focus on what’s in our hands, we miss the prosperity, community, and acceptance in our hearts. 

From recently published research, Key findings from Artworks: The Economic and Social Dividends from Canada’s Arts and Culture Sector include:

• The arts and culture sector supports 13 jobs for every million in output, which is more than oil and gas, manufacturing, or agriculture.

• Since 2011, the sector has outpaced growth in key industries including oil and gas, wholesale trade, retail trade, construction, and manufacturing.

• Economic impact is highest in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and over $100 billion in GDP.

• The sector generates an estimated $17 billion in federal and provincial tax revenue.

You would think that in a world where artists present magnificent shows through their craft, the term performative would be more positive. However, our trust in the people who serve us is incredibly low. 

“Six in ten people say that political parties are divisive forces, the worst assessment ever in our tracking. Similarly, politicians are trusted by only 17 per cent of Canadians, mirroring the lowest score ever set in 2024,” said Bruce MacLellan, Chair of Proof Strategies Inc.”

“Alberta residents show the lowest trust in almost all categories, from government to businesses to various leaders, including their own Premier.” (2025 CanTrust Index reveals low trust among politicians and political parties but an opportunity to rebuild in the new trade crisis)

“67 per cent of Canadians believe government leaders mislead the public, while 62 per cent say business leaders do the same.” (Trust in Crisis: Canadians Lose Confidence in Institutions as Grievance Takes Hold)

When we feel torn apart by a desire for stability, a need for safety, a dream of self-acceptance - art provides a way. To ourselves, to our loved ones, and to our sense of wellbeing. From the 2025 Quality of Life Report from Calgary Foundation, a majority agree that “a strong arts and culture scene is key to creating a vibrant city", "believe the arts help them appreciate other perspectives and cultures", "think public art helps create a sense of belonging to their community, and think public art improves the quality of life for residents and visitors.”

Art and culture are the charged elements that bring us together in a rhythm of exchanged signals. Signals that allow for emotion to flow, for identity to be discovered, for creativity to be inspired. For our stress levels to regulate, heart rates to sync up with each other, and to engage our compassion.

“Common input synchronization is a process where systems or organisms exposed to an identical input respond similarly. People listening to a concert, for example, could experience a synchronization of their emotions.” (How Music Synchronizes Heart Rates and Collective Emotions)

“Engagement in creative arts can be pursued as a personal hobby, in a classroom setting, or through a formal therapeutic intervention with a qualified therapist. Engagement can be active (i.e., creating) or passive (i.e., viewing, listening).” (How the arts heal: a review of the neural mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of creative arts on mental and physical health)

“Research shows people engage with the arts in a variety of ways, sometimes reporting transformative experiences. When interacting with art one finds meaningful, the default mode network—a brain region associated with introspection—is engaged. Aesthetic experiences may promote positive outcomes such as empathy, social connection, and cross-cultural understanding.” (What happens in the brain when we experience art, American Psychological Association)

And from the 2025 Calgary Citizen Engagement Survey: "Perceptions of Calgary’s arts and culture scene have improved, with nearly half of participants feeling that arts and entertainment options in the city are getting better. 

When it comes to pursuing a creative career in Calgary, however, feelings are less positive. Only half of respondents think Calgary is a good place to be an artist, representing an 11% drop from 2022. This indicates that, while the arts are seen as beneficial to the city, individual artists and the artistic community may be feeling less supported. “ (2025 Calgary Citizen Engagement Survey)

Challenges don’t make us weak. Being different doesn’t make us less successful. Creative problem-solving and critical thinking are skills that are critical over the next wave of our growth as a society. Artists, writers, singers, poets, creators, musicians, filmmakers, animators, builders, and sculptors have honed these skills and can be exceptional leaders within our communities.

For those who know me from my work in the Art for Social Change field, I advocate for artists as city-builders. Professionals who help by supporting nuanced and complex conversations, who face reality on reality’s terms, and can imagine potential scenarios for shared perspective and growth. From a theatre company brokering relations between corporations and towns to provide clean drinking water, to community-led festivals for justice and equitable rights across populations, to exhibitions on art produced exclusively to support academic research and health outcomes - we are seeing a new reality for art and culture.

“Exposure to new ideas and experiences sparks neuroplasticity. Increasing neuroplasticity means the brain can better adapt and change in response to the environment, form new neural connections, and rewire pathways. Thinking creatively produces higher-quality content and healthier brains. (Our obsession with efficiency is killing creativity)

Let our work inspire each other. 

The ultimate goal of my work is to humanize medicine from the inside out. I do this by supporting the flourishing (e.g., happiness/life satisfaction, mental/physical health, meaning/purpose, character/virtue, close social relationships) of health professionals so they are able to provide the kind of humanized medical care that allows their patients to flourish. - Dr Margaret Chisolm—Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University (Voices from the Field: Margaret Chisolm)

Similar to being apart from nature, when we lose touch with art, we forget how and why art is meaningful or beautiful. We disconnect from ourselves and our humanity. We're unsure how to make ourselves real, reflecting the worlds within us out into the world around us. The richest lives are a process of remembering who we are. Without the ability to craft or express, reinforcing, envisioning and dreaming our identities, we are lost. The act of creation is an act of identity, and reaffirming who/how/what/where/why we are. Reclaiming our identity and coming home to ourselves is the path to well-being. Our current societal definition of mental health is about categorization into systems. However, being human and alive is an irrational, creative process.

This is why art matters.

“Democracy is, at its core, a creative experiment. Artists and designers have always been central to this experiment. They make visible what is often overlooked. They design and reimagine the symbols and stories that bind us together.” (Art And Design As Civic Action: How Creativity Strengthens Democracy)

This is why art matters.

"With deep divides and polarization eroding civil discourse, we need the imagination and the skills that artists and designers bring to everything they do. They remind us that difference is not a barrier but a resource. They show us that dialogue is not a weakness, but a strength. And they invite us to participate, to contribute to the process, to engage, and to see ourselves as co-authors of the democratic story.” (Art And Design As Civic Action: How Creativity Strengthens Democracy)

This is why art matters.

“Beautiful art can make magic happen, from opening hearts to taking action in courageous ways. It’s easier to feel brave when you’re dancing with others. It’s easier to explore new or challenging ideas when you’re creating something beautiful.” (Dancing to the Rhythm: How Art Feeds the Soul of Social Change)

So let’s be brave, and challenge the status quo. Create art to stimulate conversation around the fact that there are 10 times the amount of community arenas and sports recreation facilities than dedicated arts spaces. We are tired of the hand-me-down supplies, donated materials, and spare corners for our artists. We are tired of the low rates of pay for teaching artists supporting the quality of life in our communities. Why help others to feel better when we are treated in ways that make us apologize for being there? We are tired of recognition when they can’t guarantee those outcomes, to improve the visibility of our work. Yes, publicity is important, but so is standing behind your promises with tangible results.

We deserve purpose-built spaces and the respect of our neighbours. We deserve the effort required to validate our time and energy. We deserve to be seen for the socio-economic drivers that we are. Let’s empower our culture, our society, and our communities to appreciate art as an industry that moves us.