Flourishing Through the Arts and Science Initiative 2025
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. Introductory Guide to Research Regarding Flourishing Through the Arts.
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.
From Nov 6-16, 2025, the Foundation and our collaborative partners participated in the launch of the Flourishing Through the Arts & Science Initiative to invite the public to learn more about the health benefits of engaging in the arts.
Free lectures, presentations, performances, exhibitions, receptions, and tours were 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.
See Schedule of Events & Reservations for Flourishing Through Arts & Science Initiative 2025.
On Thursday, November 6, the Opening Science Day and kick-off to Denver Arts Week, a series of events were held from 11am to 7pm at arts and science venues, starting with the Anschutz Medical Campus and Benson Hotel, 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 hosted their regular Denver Arts Week events throughout the city, including the First Friday special preview performance by the Colorado Ballet and ArtistiCO on Nov 7 and the Creative Meditation through Art-Making workshop hosted by Art Students League on Sunday, Nov 9.
On Sunday, Nov 16, the Closing Day, the Flourishing Initiative Finale was 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. This first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary performance and audience interaction featured visual art, music, and dance. Members of the audience were invited to sketch their reactions to dancers and musicians on-stage from the Colorado Ballet Studio Company who interpreted original works of art by Quang Ho, Jane Hunt, and Daniel Sprick from the Flourishing Through Beauty Exhibition.
To view video recordings of the events above, click below:
- University of Colorado Anschutz Center of Bioethics: Harnessing the Arts to Promote Wellness (Nov 6)
Panel Discussion with Dr. Emmeline Edwards, Dr. Marc Moss, and Don Ruggles. Moderated by Shannon Robinson Introduction by Dr. Matthew Wynia, Director, CU Center for Bioethics and Humanitieshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw7ONJCqFmU
- CBS News CO Interview of Shannon Robinson re: Flourishing Initiative and Art Collection of Benson Hotel
Public Tours of Hotel Art Collection were held immediately after the Panel Discussion above. Collection contains works of artists in 2025 Flourishing Through Beauty Exhibition below.https://tkx.mp.lura.live/rest/v2/mcp/video/6746197?anvack=Og28wQrNWJgapHEj8RI6LtPpalDQ1znE&token=%7E6C%2B9d5IOakS7Py5Wb1miW7loGseZvo70MQ%3D%3D
- Denver Art Museum: Harnessing the Arts to Promote Wellness: Theory and Practice (Nov 6)
Presentations by Dr. Emmeline Edwards and Katherine ReedTheory & Practice
- Denver Art Museum: Harnessing the Arts to Promote Wellness: Artful Living Interdisciplinary Performance (Nov 16)
Artful Living Interdisciplinary Performance
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
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 were led by artists, Stephanie Hartshorn and Daniel Sprick 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
Honorary Committee: Shannon Robinson (Chairperson), Raydean Acevedo, Owner, Research Management Consultants Inc., supporter of The Raydean Acevedo Colorado Ballet Academy, Rachel Basye, Executive Director, Art Students League of Denver, Marilyn E. Coors, PhD, Associate Professor Emerita, CU Anschutz Center for Bioethics and Humanities, Angelica Daneo, Denver Art Museum, Chief of Curatorial Affairs, Collections, and Exhibitions, Curator of European Art before 1900, Christin Crampton Day, Executive Director, Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, Sheridan Green, PhD, Associate Investigator, Director, Partners in Evaluation and Research (PIER) Center, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Assistant Professor, Bernard J Tyson Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, Jane Hunt, Artist Representative & Flourishing Advisor, Candice Jones, Chief Advancement Officer, Colorado Ballet, Dennis Law, MD, Director, Dennis Law Center of Arts & Technology, President & Director, Sight, Sound & Action, Ltd., Director, Law Brothers Chinese Performing Arts Int'l, Tracy Ellen Lippard, MD, FACP, Executive Director Complex Needs, Community Health, & Government Programs, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, 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, 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, Jo Virden, BSHA, Community Outreach Liaison, Center for Bioethics and Humanities, CU-Anschutz Medical Campus, Nancy Walsh, Executive Vice President, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Cassie Wilson, Associate Director of Education & Community Engagement, Colorado Ballet, and Matthew Wynia, MD, MPH, FACP, Professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Colorado School of Public Health Director, CU Center for Bioethics and Humanities.
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, Ron Hicks, Quang Ho, 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.
The Foundation also participated in the planning and funding of the Nov 16 Finale.
In collaboration with the Flourishing Through Art & Science Council, the Foundation is now planning the events for Flourishing Through Arts & Science Initiative 2026.
More Info:
Shannon Robinson:
President, Windows to the Divine
Chairperson, Flourishing Through the Arts & Science Initiative
