Flourishing Through the Arts and Science Initiative
Art is Like an
Apple …
Make It and
Experience It
for a Healthier
Life!
Windows to the Divine
Flourishing Through Arts & Science Council
November 6-16, 2025
Can the visual arts, music, singing, dance, and expressive writing help us to flourish by improving our physical, mental, social and spiritual health? Can the arts help us to live longer and more satisfying lives? Can the arts improve our cognitive function, life skills, and behavior? Can the arts help prevent and treat disease?
Yes. Highly credible scientific research within the rapidly developing field of neuroarts now confirms that every human being needs the arts and will benefit from their significant positive health impacts. Art—like exercise and a healthy diet—is essential to human health and well-being.
In November of 2024, to educate the public about this research and increase participation in the arts, our Foundation established the Flourishing Through Arts & Science Council. Chaired by Shannon Robinson, the Council members include Jane Hunt, Artist Representative and Flourishing Advisor and representatives from the Art Students League of Denver, Colorado Ballet, Denver Art Museum, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Gallery 1261, CU Anschutz Center for Bioethics and Humanities, Visit Denver, and Windows to the Divine.
This year, from Nov 6-16, 2025, the Foundation and our collaborative partners will launch the Flourishing Through the Arts & Science Initiative to invite the public to learn more how the arts help us to live longer and improve the quality of our physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being.
Free lectures, presentations, performances, exhibitions, receptions, and tours will be offered at various arts and science venues, including the Art Students League of Denver, Benson Hotel & Faculty Club, Colorado Ballet, Denver Art Museum, Gallery 1261, and the University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz Medical Campus. To attend, you must make reservations since capacity is limited.
See Schedule of Events & Reservations for Flourishing Council Members.
On Thursday, November 6, the Opening Day and kick-off to Denver Arts Week, a series of events will be held from 11am to 7pm at arts and science venues, starting with the Anschutz Medical Campus, then the Denver Art Museum and ending with the Flourishing Through the Arts & Science Reception and Flourishing Through Beauty National Art Exhibition at Gallery 1261.
From Friday, Nov 7-Sunday, Nov 16, arts and culture organizations will host their regular Denver Arts Week events throughout the city. See Denver Arts Week events calendar.
On Sunday, Nov 16, the Closing Day, the Flourishing Initiative Finale will be held at the Denver Art Museum from 2:00-3:30pm consisting of a Special Interdisciplinary Performance and Audience Interactive Experience with visual artists and dancers and musicians from the Colorado Ballet Studio Company.
Schedule of Events & Reservations
Oil on canvas, 30” x 24”
Flourishing Through Beauty Exhibition
Flourishing Events Sponsored by Windows to the Divine & Gallery 1261
Opening Day: Thursday, Nov 6
- 1:15pm-2:15pm: Tour of Benson Hotel Art Collection
Free: RSVP
Commissioned by the hotel and curated by William Matthews Studio, the collection contains works by 32 artists, the vast majority of whom are based in Colorado. Tours may be led by artists whose works are in the collection.
- 5:00-7:00pm: Flourishing Through the Arts & Science Reception and Flourishing Through Beauty National Art Exhibition at Gallery 1261
Free: RSVP
Join us for cocktails and Cuban fare at an unprecedented gathering of artists, art lovers and healthcare professionals as we build a community dedicated to the promotion of human flourishing through the arts and science.
Honorary Committee: Shannon Robinson (Chairperson), Jane Hunt, Artist Representative & Flourishing Advisor, Candice Jones, Chief Advancement Officer, Colorado Ballet, Chris Mileham, Gallery 1261, Marc Moss, MD, Roger S. Mitchell Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Principal Investigator of the Colorado Resiliency Arts Lab (CORAL), Katherine Reed, LPC, ATR, Co-Investigator of CORAL, Kathryn A. Rhine, PhD, Director of the Arts & Humanities in Healthcare Program at CU Anschutz Medical Campus, Don Ruggles, architect, author of Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture: Timeless Patterns & Their Impact on Our Well-Being (2019) and Co-Director of Design/Health, Danielle Schulz, Associate Director of Lifelong Learning and Accessibility, Denver Art Museum, and Cassie Wilson, Associate Director of Education & Community Engagement, Colorado Ballet.
Celebrate the importance of beauty in achieving well-being as you view a special exhibition of the works of 37 artists of national and international renown.
Flourishing Through Beauty Exhibition Artists:
Kathy Anderson, Blair Atherholt, Jim Beckner, Suchitra Bhosle, Daniel Bilmes, Stephanie Birdsall, Kelly Birkenruth, Gregory Block, Robin Cole, Michelle Dunaway, Kim English, Scott Fraser, Ann Gargotto, Ulrich Gleiter (Germany), Stephanie Hartshorn, Jane Hunt, Brendan Johnston, MaryBeth Karaus, Andrea Kemp, Agnieszka Kotarska (Poland), Jeff Legg, Terrie Lombardi, Kyle Ma, Serge Marshennikov (Turkey), Dan McCaw, Danny McCaw, John McCaw, Sherrie McGraw, C.W. Mundy, Sandra Pratt, Jill Soukup, Daniel Sprick, Jen Starling, Adrienne Stein, Kazuya Ushioda (Japan), Anna Wypych (Poland), and Vincent Xeus.
More Info:
Shannon Robinson:
President, Windows to the Divine
Chairperson, Flourishing Through the Arts & Science Initiative
