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Arts and Health Week Summit
At the Intersection of Arts and Health
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2026
LA COUNTY ARTS AND HEALTH WEEK SUMMIT
The 5th annual LA County Arts and Health Week Summit is coming up on Friday, June 12, and we want you to join us. Cross-sector leaders from around the county and beyond will gather at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to inspire and empower us all to build stronger, healthier communities. You'll hear cutting-edge research and discover tools and resources to pursue your goals as an individual, a professional artist, or an organization; then, try them out in real time.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026
Community Resource Fair 10:00am-1:15pm
Discussions, Experiences, and Presentations 11:00am-4:00pm
Keep reading to discover what the Summit has in store for you.
Join us on June 12, 2026 for the 5th annual LA County Arts and Health Week Summit, hosted by LA Opera in collaboration with LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, First District; Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab.
Featured Arts and Health Week Collaborations
As part of LA County Arts and Health Week 2026, LA Opera Connects, in partnership with the LA County Department of Arts and Culture and the LA County Board of Supervisors, is coordinating arts and wellness activations across LA County. These activations will take place between June 5–13, 2026, and are intended to highlight and amplify the work already happening in each district while creating a shared County-wide moment leading into the LA County Arts and Health Week Summit on Friday, June 12.
In partnership with LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, First District and LA General Medical Center
In partnership with LA County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District and ONEGeneration Adult Daycare
In partnership with LA County Supervisor Janice K. Hahn, Fourth District, Catalina Island, City of Avalon, and Catalina Museum For Art & History
In partnership with LA County Department of Arts and Culture.
CORE THEMES
- From Research to Practice: Examining how promising models can evolve into sustainable, measurable programs
- Five Years of Progress: Reflecting on partnerships, impact, and key lessons while shaping what comes next
- Advocacy Across Sectors: Strengthening funding, policy, and cross-sector collaboration.
WHO ATTENDS THE SUMMIT?
- Artists, arts-lovers, and administrators
- Healthcare practitioners and staff
- Philanthropists and policymakers
- Scholars and researchers
- Students and educators
- Anyone curious about how creativity supports wellness
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
- Thoughtful conversations
- Focused case study presentations
- Experiential arts sessions
- Facilitated networking opportunities
- A community resource fair
SPEAKERS AND PRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS
- Hilda L. Solis – LA County Board of Supervisors Chair, First District
(video presentation) - Renée Fleming – Acclaimed soprano and Special Projects Advisor, LA Opera
- Kristin Sakoda – Director, LA County Department of Arts and Culture
———————————————————————————————————————
- Dr. Curley Bonds – Chief Medical Officer, LA County Department of Mental Health
- Emcee: Gail Eden Eichenthal – Community Engagement Officer, Classical California
- Dr. Barbara Ferrer – Director, LA County Department of Public Health
- Dr. Christina Ghaly – Director, LA County Department of Health Services
- Dr. Assal Habibi – Associate Professor of Psychology and Director, Center for Music, Brain, and Society, University of Southern California
- Ping Ho – Founder and Executive Director, Arts & Healing Initiative
- Sunil Iyengar – Director of Research and Analysis, National Endowment for the Arts
- Dr. Akila Kadambi – Postdoctoral Researcher, UCLA, Google DeepMind
- Kevin A. Klock - Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer; General Counsel, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
- Christine Manley Martinez, MA – Deputy Director, Arts & Healing Initiative
- Anne Preven – Songwriter and Owner, 74 Willow Productions
- Rachel Whiting – Creative Director and Lead Teaching Artist, Invertigo Dance Theatre: Dancing Through Parkinson's
- Dr. Konita Wilks – Chief Executive Officer, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
- And more to be announced
EXPERIENTIAL ARTS SESSIONS
- Mindful Rhythm, Sound, and Movement for Self-Care with Arts & Healing Initiative
Experience the mindfulness benefits of rhythm, sound, and movement. Research has shown that synchrony through these modalities is rewarding to the brain and fosters connection with and compassion toward others. Discover how they can shift mood and energy, manage stress, facilitate creativity, and elicit self-compassion, empathy, and dialogue. - Dance for Every-Body! with Invertigo Dance Theatre: Dancing Through Parkinson’s
Dancing Through Parkinson's (DTP) provides dance classes to people living with Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative, mobility, and age-related conditions. DTP fosters a supportive environment where participants can explore movement at their own pace, build confidence, and experience the power of movement as both expression and community. Rooted in creativity, connection, and inclusivity, classes build hope and well-being through the joy of dance.
| Able ARTS Work Able ARTS Work provides creative arts education and therapies for adults with developmental disabilities | The Music Center As one of the nation’s largest performing arts centers, and as a cultural anchor in Los Angeles County, The Music Center convenes artists, communities and ideas with the goal of enriching the lives of every resident. |
| Alzheimer’s Los Angeles Alzheimer’s Los Angeles is a locally focused, nationally and internationally recognized leader in providing high-impact support and education programs to people living with the disease and to their families. | Music Mends Minds Music Mends Minds is an eleven-year-old, LA-based, global nonprofit that creates free music therapy and engagement groups for seniors, especially those with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, and other neurodegenerative illnesses and challenges. |
| Arts & Healing Initiative Our mission is to transform lives through the innate power of the arts, guided by mental health practices, to foster healing, connection, and resilience for all. | The Opera League of Los Angeles Founded in 1981, the nonprofit Opera League of Los Angeles is the primary volunteer support organization, and co-founder, of LA Opera, the resident opera company for the City of Los Angeles. The Opera League produces an array of educational programs including seminars, gatherings, musicales, master classes, and much more. |
| Dancing Through Parkinson's (Invertigo Dance Theatre) Dancing Through Parkinson’s (DTP) offers live classes and virtual programming, designed specifically to aid people living with Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative, mobility, and age-related conditions. | Playtronus LLC Playtronus LLC helps adults enhance their health and wellbeing through play, creativity, and connection. |
| LA County Library LA County Library is one of the largest library systems in the US. It offers free public resources including books, music, multimedia materials, >and internet access, and more. | Rancho Foundation and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center For more than 125 years, the clinicians at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center have been on a mission to restore health, rebuild life, and revitalize hope for persons with a life-changing illness, injury, or disability. Rancho Los Amigos is recognized as an international leader in rehabilitation medicine and clinical research. |
| LA Opera and LA Opera Connects LA Opera strives to serve the public by producing world-class opera that preserves, promotes and advances the art form while embodying the diversity, pioneering spirit and artistic sensibility unique to Los Angeles. As the company's Learning and Community Engagement department, LA Opera Connects works to make opera accessible to everyone and build a collaborative, engaged, and healthy community through our shared musical experiences. | Urban Voices Project Urban Voices Project amplifies artistic expression through community singing to improve well-being, strengthen social networks, and inspire individuals to be their own best advocates. |
| Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health As the nation’s largest public mental health department, LACDMH ensures access to care and treatment for our most vulnerable residents in a region with more than 10 million people. LACDMH is dedicated to hope, recovery, and wellbeing for everyone across the County. | USC Center for Music, Brain, and Society The USC Center for Music, Brain, and Society is dedicated to advancing the application of the knowledge we gain from research in music science to promote human well-being and societal flourishing. Our center assembles a diverse and accomplished group of experts from various disciplines within the University. |
| Date | Event | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, June 6 5:30PM – 6:15PM | Narsiso Martinez: Witnesses of Labor - Portraits of Essential Workers | Catalina Museum For Art & History 217 Metropole Ave Avalon, CA 90704 | Catalina Museum For Art & History presents Narsiso Martinez: Witnesses of Labor - Portraits of Essential Workers. Narsiso Martinez’s work focuses on the lives of farm workers whose labor sustains communities across the United States. Drawing, painting, and creating sculptural interventions on the boxes that carry harvested fruits and vegetables from fields to markets, Martinez transforms these materials into portraits that honor both the individuals depicted and his artistic practice. In conjunction with the exhibit, LA Opera Connects artists will perform a special concert of opera's greatest hits, Zarzuela excerpts, and other songs in Spanish. Presented in partnership with LA County Supervisor Janice K. Hahn, Fourth District. |
| Sunday, June 7 12:30PM – 3:30PM | Andell Family Sundays | LA County Museum of Art (LACMA) 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 | Join Andell Family Sundays in person on LACMA's campus and be creative, discover new art, make memories, and have fun! Get inspired by the exhibition Fútbol Is Life: Animated Sportraits by Lyndon J. Barrois, Sr. and make your own art at these drop-in workshops led by artists Karl Petion and Ivana Torres. Celebrating the arrival of the World Cup in Los Angeles, Fútbol Is Life presents works by award-winning animator and visual effects artist Lyndon J. Barrois, Sr. Crafted from gum wrappers, glue, paint, and other materials, his miniature “sportraits” capture iconic moments in women’s and men’s soccer. Barrois brings a playful yet emotional energy to his meticulously handmade sculptures and stop-motion animations, which showcase the game’s grace and power. Fútbol Is Life highlights the artist’s inventive approach to storytelling and animation through his unique vision of the world’s most beloved sport. |
| Sunday, June 7 12:30PM – 3:30PM | Fiber Maker’s Circle | LA County Museum of Art (LACMA) 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 | Calling all fiber aficionados! Bring your current project or grab supplies from our stash. Led by experienced fiber artists, you'll learn a new skill or help others in the circle. The circle is hosted outdoors by Andell Family Sundays and is FREE and open to all ages and skill levels. Click HERE for more information. |
| Sunday, June 7 6:00PM – 8:00PM | Eisner Intergenerational Music Showcase | The Pavilion | The Eisner Intergenerational Music Showcase celebrates the hard work put in by our community throughout the season. The big band, choir, orchestra, and finally the wind ensemble debut, take stage at the Heart of Los Angeles Pavilion to showcase the amazing music that can be made when we come together across generations. |
| Monday, June 8 12:00PM – 1:30PM | Acting for Everyone with Brian – Acting for Joy | Lineage Performing Arts Center | Dance for Joy classes are designed to spread the love of performing arts for those living with neuroatypicalities by helping to manage and mitigate symptoms of neurological conditions (Parkinson’s, MS, TBI, stroke) and build community through art and connection. To attend our Dance for Joy classes, just show up at our space. There is no sign-up, but first-time attendees must fill out a liability form provided on-site. All are welcome, including caretakers and family members. |
| Monday, June 8 2:00PM – 3:00PM | Movement with Ericalynn – Dance for Joy | Lineage Performing Arts Center 920 E. Mountain St. Pasadena, CA 91104 | Dance for Joy at Lineage Performing Arts Center is a specialized program for adults with Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, TBI, MS and other neurological differences. The program is designed to promote mind-body connectivity and socialization through the arts through weekly Dance for Joy, Sing for Joy and Act for Joy classes-all free of charge! |
| Monday, June 8 2:00PM – 3:00PM | Bass Guitar Labs - Urban Voices Project | Studio 526 at The People Concern 526 S San Pedro St. Los Angeles, CA 90013 | Urban Voices Project brings Bass Guitar Labs back to Studio 526 and the Skid Row Community! Immerse yourself in learning the basics and groove on bass guitar. All levels welcome for this FREE program! Bring your own bass or borrow one to practice. |
| Monday, June 8 2:00PM – 3:00PM | Hawaiian Fun at Altadena Senior Center | Loma Alta Park Gym 3330 N Lincoln Ave Altadena, CA 91001 | Come join us for Hawaiian Fun at ASC (in the gym at Loma Alta Park). There will be refreshments and entertainment (Line Dancing by Soul Sisters, Polynesian Dancers, and LA Opera Connects performance). We hope to see you there! Presented in partnership with LA County Supervisor Kathryn A. Barger, Fifth District. |
| Tuesday, June 9 12:00PM – 1:00PM | Creative Care: Celebrating LA County Arts and Health Week | Virtual | Creative Care: An Opera for Life and Wellness Program is a FREE Zoom series which explores wellness through creativity. Open to everyone in the community, each session combines mindful breathing and vocal grounding with inspiring explorations of opera, hands-on arts engagement, and gentle reflection activities. You'll find a welcoming space to connect, create, and recharge. Come as you are—no prior experience needed. Click HERE to reserve a spot. |
| Tuesday, June 9 7:00PM – 8:30PM | Dzogchen: Guided Group Meditation for Freedom of Mind & Heart | 18th Street Art Center (Olympic Campus) 1639 18th St. Santa Monica, CA 90404 | Join Dzogchen guided group meditation in Santa Monica—2nd & 4th Tue—experience mental clarity & inner peace in Dzogchen practice Join us for a healing series of guided meditations, where we learn to open and become aware of our own innermost Heart-Essence Awareness, emerging from the Dzogchen lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. This is not just “mind practice,” but a doorway into living from and within freedom — freedom not only from our own psychology and historic self-narratives, but also from the habitual loops that keep us replaying the same interpretations and expressions. Whether you’re a longtime meditator or a curious newcomer, this is a space to explore how timeless Awareness, Mindfulness, and Compassionate Creativity arise from the same Open Source. All are welcome to share in this space of warmth, clarity, and open-hearted awareness. |
| Tuesday, June 9 7:00PM – 9:00PM | Tuesday Dance Classes at the VFW San Fernando | Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3834 111 North Hagar Street San Fernando, CA 91340 | Learn to dance Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, Banda, Hustle, Swing, and Rockabilly Jive at the VFW San Fernando. Join Dance Coach Rudy's School of Dance every Tuesday from 7 pm-9 pm. Every Tuesday, we will teach and rotate these different dance styles: Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia, Banda, Cha Cha Cha, Merengue, Swing, Rockabilly Jive, and Latin Hustle. If you are a new student, your first day of dance classes is free. Free parking in the back. Look for the stairway and enter through the back door. Ask for Rudy the dance instructor. Come burn calories, meet new friends, and have a good time dancing with us! Before attending the dance classes, text Rudy for confirmation at 818-792-3319. Find us on Instagram @Dance_Coach_Rudy and visit our website: DanceCoachRudy.Com. We can't wait to see you on the dance floor! |
| Wednesday, June 10 9:45AM – 10:45AM | Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga | Community Resource Center LA 1233 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90006 | Community Resource Center Metro LA is hosting FREE Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga classes for new moms and moms to be! Yoga mats, blocks, pillow and yoga straps provided. Come to class learn how to breath properly, stretch and relax! Participate with your newborn baby! Free Diapers after class! Contact www.blackvelveteenyoga.com or the Community Resource Center Metro LA at 213-428-1457 for more information. |
| Wednesday, June 10 10:30AM – 12:30PM | Devising for Theater with Farah – Acting for Joy | Lineage Performing Arts Center 920 E. Mountain St. Pasadena, CA 91104 | Dance for Joy at Lineage Performing Arts Center is a specialized program for adults with Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, TBI, MS and other neurological differences. The Devising for Theater with Farah is part of the Acting for Joy program which is designed to promote mind-body connectivity and socialization through the arts through weekly classes-all free of charge! |
| Wednesday, June 10 1:00PM – 2:00PM | Voice Classes with Shauna – Singing for Joy | Lineage Performing Arts Center 920 E. Mountain St. Pasadena, CA 91104 | Singing for Joy at Lineage Performing Arts Center is a specialized program for adults with Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, TBI, MS and other neurological differences. The program is designed to promote mind-body connectivity and socialization through the arts through weekly Dance for Joy, Sing for Joy and Act for Joy classes-all free of charge! |
| Wednesday, June 10 2:00PM – 3:00PM | Seated Movement with Michelle – Dance for Joy | Lineage Performing Arts Center 920 E. Mountain St. Pasadena, CA 91104 | Dance for Joy at Lineage Performing Arts Center is a specialized program for adults with Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, TBI, MS and other neurological differences. The program is designed to promote mind-body connectivity and socialization through the arts through weekly Dance for Joy, Sing for Joy and Act for Joy classes-all free of charge! |
| Wednesday, June 10 2:00PM – 3:00PM | Altadena Wildfire Survivor Community Writing Group - Saved by a Story | Bob Lucas Memorial Library 2659 Lincoln Ave. Altadena, CA 91001 | Saved by a Story is a free, prompt-driven community writing group for L.A. wildfire survivors. Come together in community to write about the cherished places we have been, what we have lost (and found), and how we will chart a way forward. Ignite your creativity, share your stories, and find connection in this non-judgmental and creative environment. Participants of all ages are welcome. Please arrive 5 or 10 minutes early to get settled, as we start the group promptly at 2 PM. Bring a notebook (nothing fancy) and a pen. Hosted by Saved by a Story Writing Facilitator Shermaine Barlaan. |
| Wednesday, June 10 2:00PM – 3:00PM | Urban Voices Project Neighborhood Sing @ Joshua House Clinic | Joshua House Clinic + Virtual 325 E 7th St. Los Angeles, CA | Neighborhood Sing is a free, weekly drop-in community music workshop facilitated by local teaching artists to welcome vulnerable community members into a creative space of belonging. Through participatory singing and trauma-informed mindfulness activities, the program aims to improve mental health, amplify self-expression, and develop social and emotional learning, while connecting participants to community resources including healthcare and social service providers. Workshops may feature guest artists and are streamed on Zoom and Facebook Live. Sing with us on Zoom! Meeting ID: 859 5379 4000 Passcode: 565821 |
| Wednesday, June 10 4:00PM – 5:00PM | FREE Arts Classes | Pico-Union Project 1153 Valencia St Los Angeles, CA 90015 | Come to the Pico Union Project and join our class with amazing teachers and artists. Art supplies are provided but please feel free to bring art supplies to donate. Send an email to: info@picounionproject.org or call: 213-915-0084 to reserve your spot. |
| Wednesday, June 10 4:00PM – 5:00PM and 5:00PM – 6:00PM | FREE Guitar Classes | Pico-Union Project 1153 Valencia St Los Angeles, CA 90015 | Come to the Pico Union Project and join our FREE guitar classes. Thanks to President of Orangewood Guitars Eddie Park, our guitar lessons are back with Jason Roberts.Ages 9 and up are welcome! Send an email to: info@picounionproject.org or call: 213-915-0084 to reserve your spot. |
| Friday, June 12 10:00AM – 4:00PM | 2026 LA County Arts and Health Week Summit | Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012 | The LA County Arts and Health Week Summit brings arts practitioners, medical experts and administrators, policymakers and researchers together at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for discussions and presentations exploring how the arts can increasingly, and equitably, support health and wellbeing. Hosted by LA Opera in collaboration with LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, First District; Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, this unique summit offers conversations and participatory experiences and promotes creative ways to approach wellness. The event features acclaimed soprano and LA Opera Special Projects Advisor Renée Fleming, among other notable advocates for the arts in healthcare. |
| Friday, June 12 6:00PM – 8:00PM | Jazz at LACMA: Ralph Moore Quartet | Schmidt Welcome Plaza | Celebrate L.A.'s finest jazz musicians with Jazz at LACMA. This week, join us for a concert with Ralph Moore Quartet. Veteran tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore has toured the world as a member of such legendary bands led by Horace Silver, Roy Haynes, Freddie Hubbard, and Gene Harris. As a recording artist, he has released recordings for Reservoir, Landmark, Criss Cross, and Savoy Records and as a sideman has worked with such greats as Ray Brown, Kenny Barron, Roy Hargrove, and Oscar Peterson. Starting in 1995, Moore was a longtime member of the Tonight Show Band directed by guitarist Kevin Eubanks. |
| Friday, June 12 7:30PM – 9:30PM | America the Beautiful, Sound of Unity | Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Come to this FREE concert hosted by Heart of LA – Eisner Intergenerational Orchestra for their annual Spring Concert entitled 'America the Beautiful, Sound of Unity' with conductor and artistic director, Daniel Suk. Maestro Suk will conduct an intergenerational, community orchestra of up to 130 instrumentalists with a multi-generational community chorus in celebration of American music. |
| Saturday, June 13 1:30PM – 4:30PM | Laughter is the Best Medicine | Covina Center for the Performing Arts >104 N Citrus Ave Covina, CA 91723 | The Laughter is the Best Medicine Comedy Project brings joy and connection to mental health awareness in Asian communities. Join us for an unforgettable live event featuring local comedians, musicians, and storytellers from across Los Angeles County. The Laughter is the Best Medicine comedy event will highlight Asian/Asian American artistry, from stand-up comedy and music to visual art, and uplift voices that are often overlooked. The event creates a vibrant space where community members can learn, laugh, and connect while gaining access to meaningful mental health resources. The event is free for the community, and registration is required. Tickets are limited, so please register before they are gone. Light refreshment will be provided, so please arrive early to enjoy them before they run out. |
| Saturday, June 13 5:00PM – 7:00PM | Latin Sounds: Téka | Hancock Park – La Brea Tar Pits and Museum LA County Museum of Art (LACMA) 5800 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 | Spend your Saturday evening for a concert of Latin Sounds:Téka. The Brazilian vocalist and guitarist Téka has performed and recorded the world over, collaborating with such legendary musicians as Hermeto Pascoal, Gilberto Gil, and Flore Purim & Airto. As a recording artist, she has released a number of acclaimed albums including Garden Planet and Watercolours of Brazil. Téka has appeared at top clubs and festivals including Vibratos, Kitano Jazz, Regatta Bar, Palau de la Musica in Spain, Casa de Linhares in Portugal, and the Meridien Concert Series in Tahiti, and as a soloist with leading orchestras, big bands, and choirs. |
Previous Arts and Health Week Summit Recaps
2025 Recorded Summit
Want a preview of what you can expect this year? Check out the 2025 Los Angeles County Arts and Health Week video series to immerse yourself in thoughtful conversations with leaders in the field of arts and health. You'll discover research highlighting how the arts are vital to individual and collective healing, innovative techniques to build resilience, and resources to support your community. You'll even get a chance to sing along.
To get in touch with questions, connect with us at Connects@laopera.org or call us at 213.972.3157.
Generous support for the LA County Arts and Health Week Summit provided by
The Music Man Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, First District
Kaiser Permanente
L.A. Care Health Plan
The LA County Arts and Health Week Summit received additional funding from
Civic Practice Grant from OPERA America’s Opera Fund.
LA Opera Connects is generously supported by
The Emanuel Treitel Senior Citizen Fund
The Green Foundation
The Music Man Foundation
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