Why the Arts Matter to Our Well-Being
People often share how time at Bellforge made them feel. Calmer. Lighter. More grounded. Sometimes they don’t quite have the words for it, just a sense that something shifted while they were here. There’s a reason for that.
Time spent with the arts has a real impact on how we feel, both mentally and physically. Going to a performance, taking a class, writing, painting, dancing, or simply making something with your hands can lower stress, ease anxiety, and help us feel less alone. It can even support long-term brain health.
One study found that just 45 minutes of artmaking can reduce cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, by up to 25 percent. That’s a short window of time for a meaningful change, and it’s something many of us recognize once we experience it ourselves.
Photo: Americana Fest 2025 at Bellforge Arts Center
What makes Bellforge unique is that creativity here doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens alongside nature. Our campus is rich with trees, open lawns, and miles of trails. There’s space to walk, to breathe, to sit quietly, or to take in a performance under the sky. That connection between art and the natural world matters. Green space has its own well-documented benefits for mental health, and when it’s paired with creative expression, something deeper tends to happen.
Research centers like the NeuroArts Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University are helping put language and data behind these experiences, studying how creativity, environment, and the brain work together to support well-being.
For most people, this doesn’t feel like new information. In Americans Speak Out About the Arts, one of the largest studies of its kind, 71 percent of Americans said the arts give them pure pleasure. Nearly 70 percent said the arts positively affect their health and well-being, and 60 percent said the arts have helped them through difficult emotional moments.
We see those numbers come to life here in small, everyday ways. In the quiet before a show begins on the lawn. In the focus that settles in during an outdoor workshop. In conversations that unfold naturally between people who might not have crossed paths elsewhere. Even as we continue to build toward our future indoor spaces, these moments already tell us a lot about what Bellforge can be.
This work is starting to be recognized more broadly, too. The U.S. House of Representatives has recommended funding for NeuroArts research through the National Institutes of Health, with organizations like Americans for the Arts advocating for continued support.
But the most important part isn’t happening in research labs or policy meetings. It’s happening when someone decides to come for a walk, stay for a performance, or try something creative in a setting that invites them to slow down.
Photo: Cloudbelly performing live at Bellforge’s Summer Sounds
At Bellforge, we’re building toward a year-round arts center. In the meantime, our work takes place largely outdoors, guided by the landscape, the changing seasons, and the community that shows up. These experiences are shaping the future of Bellforge in real and meaningful ways.
You can see what’s coming up on our campus on our Events page, and if you’d like to stay connected as Bellforge continues to grow, we’d love to have you join our newsletter.