Author of “Your Brain on Art” Speaks at Palm Health Foundation Event

Health, Science, and Arts Philanthropists Hear from Best-Selling Author of “Your Brain on Art”

May 2, 2023

Palm Beach County’s leading philanthropists and advocates for health, science, and the arts came together on April 18, 2023 at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach, FL, for an evening to celebrate the neuroarts and one of its worldwide leaders, Susan Magsamen, author of the New York Times bestselling book, “Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us.” Palm Health Foundation trustee and event chair Frances Fisher welcomed 65 guests to hear about Ms. Magasamen’s insights and exciting news on how Palm Health Foundation and partners are pioneering the neuroarts field in Palm Beach County with the goal to become a nationally recognized “Brain Coast.”

Mrs. Fisher, the evening’s host, opened the evening by welcoming guests inside the Cox Science Center’s Journey Through the Human Brain, the world’s most advanced neuroscience exhibit. It was the perfect setting for Ms. Magsamen to share the highlights of her book that tell the life-altering journey through the science of neuroaesthetics, which offers proof for how our brains and bodies transform when we participate in the arts, and how this knowledge can improve our health, enable us to flourish, and build stronger communities.

Ms. Magsamen spoke of the life-changing potential of the arts and how they are “accessible, immediate, and affordable.” She added that “there is an army out there” of artists, scientists, policy makers, practitioners, and others who are promoting the neuroarts, but are not connected. In her work as the founder and executive director of the International Arts+Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and as co-director of the NeuroArts Blueprint, Ms. Magsamen is leading on a first-of-its-kind roadmap to move the field into widespread use by scaling up the research, training, and practice components. “The world is ripe for this,” Magsamen said.

Patrick McNamara, president and CEO of Palm Health Foundation, agreed. Mr. McNamara shared how the foundation has convened the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute, the Max Plank Florida Institute for Neuroscience, the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, and The Palm Beaches to form the Palm Beach County NeuroArts Collaborative to focus on identifying and mapping local partners, programs, resources, and existing research to support the advancement of neuroarts in South Florida. The NeuroArts Blueprint has chosen the collaborative as its first local Community Arts Coalition Partner.

“We have incredible assets right here in our backyard – world-class brain science institutions and robust cultural assets that are already participating in the neuroarts,” Mr. McNamara said. “Isn’t it time that we brought these powerful forces together to promote healing and flourishing in our community?”

The crowd burst into applause as Mr. McNamara announced, “Palm Health Foundation will match, dollar-for-dollar, all gifts to The NeuroArts Fund up to a total of $100,000! Building the field of neuroarts will positively impact and bring about solutions for better mental health, including our youth mental health crisis, and healing pathways for neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.”

Mr. McNamara thanked the Merrell Family Foundation for pledging support for a neuroarts fellowship, and Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Fisher Cummings for their contributions to launch The NeuroArts Fund matching gift campaign.

Guests left the evening with a copy of Ms. Magsamen’s book and a feeling of inspiration for Palm Beach County’s potential to become the national leader in neuroarts. “The power of the arts and its ability to positively impact brain health, and our overall wellbeing, is undeniable,” Mrs. Fisher said.

Joining Mrs. Fisher on the event’s host committee were:

Randy Blakely, Ph.D., Executive Director, FAU Stiles Nicholson Brain Institute
Bill Bone, Trial Lawyer, Larmoyeux & Bone
Julie Fisher Cummings, MSSW, Co-founder and Chairman, Lovelight Foundation
Steve & Beth Elgort, Founders, Mind, Music and Movement Foundation
John Lacy, CPWA, Wealth Management Advisor, Managing Director, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Dave Lawrence, President & CEO, Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
Joyce & Dusty Sang, Founders, Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation

Guests included: Palm Beach County Mayor Gregg Weiss; LeeAnne Nicolson LaBanz and Joe LeBanz, Stiles Nicholson Foundation; Jeffrey Fisher; Andrea Camp, NeuroArts Blueprint; Beth Elgort, CEO, and Trustees Dr. Julie Pilitsis and Anne Sternlicht, Mind, Music and Movement Foundation; Margaret Horgan, Managing Director and Trustees Sarah and Tim Benitz, Patricia Izbicki Karyn Lamb, Cynthia Sulzberger, Ethel Isaacs Williams, and Mieke van Waveren, Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens; Christine Koehn, Ilene Solomon Silber, Marsha Fishbane and Nat Nason, Palm Health Foundation Trustees, DeAnna Pledger, Philanthropy Committee Member, Inger Harvey and Greg Quattlebaum, Community Investment Committee Members; John and Egle McNamara; Peter Cruise; Ann Berner; Jill Merrell, Merrell Family Foundation; Kate Arrizza, CEO, Marcy Hoffman, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and Board Members Wendy Bingham Cox, Katharine Eyre, Mary Freitas, and Carter Pottash, Cox Science Center & Aquarium; Dan and Denise Hanley, Gunster; Dr. Ivan Baines and Dr. McLean Bolton, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience; Kathleen Alex, CFO/COO, Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

About Palm Health Foundation
Palm Health Foundation is Palm Beach County’s community foundation for health. With the support of donors and a focus on results, the foundation builds strong community partnerships, respects diverse opinions, advocates for its most vulnerable neighbors, and inspires innovative solutions to lead change for better health now and for generations to come. The foundation supports health equity for Palm Beach County residents of all backgrounds, heritage, education, incomes, and states of well-being. Palm Health Foundation has invested more than $91 million in Palm Beach County health since 2001. For more information about Palm Health Foundation, visit palmhealthfoundation.org or call (561) 833-6333.

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