When we think about what gives a community its soul, we often think about Art & Culture. Music that stirs powerful emotions, paintings that reflect universal feelings, performances that bridge divides – these are not luxuries, but essential threads that connect us to one another.
Across America and here in Delray Beach, Arts & Culture prove themselves to be catalysts for connection, healing, economic vitality, and cultural understanding. And few local institutions embody that spirit more profoundly than Arts Garage.
Arts Garage lives its mission daily: to connect our community to the world through the arts. Through resilience, innovation, and a deep belief in accessibility, Arts Garage has become a cornerstone for artistic engagement that uplifts not just individuals, but the entire community.
Research consistently shows that engagement in the arts leads to remarkable benefits. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), participation in creative activities can reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and lower the risk of depression and anxiety. Arts engagement also strengthens the immune system and can even extend life expectancy. In a world grappling with a growing mental health crisis, the arts provide an accessible path toward healing and connection.
Arts Garage has embraced this truth fully, creating programs specifically designed to reach populations who benefit most: seniors & veterans, underserved youth, and those facing mobility challenges. Programs like our new Senior Series bring music, dance, and culture directly to seniors and individuals living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Studies show that older adults who engage in cognitive or physical activities, including the arts, are significantly less likely to develop dementia.
Similarly, through its Artists-in-Residence (AiR) Series, Arts Garage provides dynamic cultural experiences to youth and underserved communities. This initiative brings workshops, performances, and immersive cultural programs to youth who might otherwise lack access to the arts. Events like the “African Storytell-ing with Baba Adekemi Lyons” feature African storytelling, crafts, songs, and dance and offer joyful experiences and profound emotional and social benefits.
Beyond emotional health, the arts are a major driver of economic growth. The Americans for the Arts 2023 study found that non-profit arts and culture organizations generated $151.7 billion in economic activity nationwide in 2022, supporting 2.6 million jobs and generating over $29 billion in tax revenue.
Locally, Arts Garage’s own economic impact surpassed $4.1 million last year. One of the biggest reasons? Audiences patronize lo-cal shops and restaurants, with more than half of ticket holders dining or shopping downtown before or after events, generating more than $420,000 annually for local businesses.
Arts education is equally critical. Expanding arts programming improves school engagement, reduces disciplinary issues, and boosts writing achievement, particularly among English language learners. Arts Garage’s commitment to youth programming ensures that Delray Beach’s next generation can reap these benefits firsthand, providing workshops and performance opportunities that build empathy, resilience, and academic achievement.
Its newest program, The Family Series, which is sponsored in full by the Virginia and Harvey Kimmel Family Fund of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, is designed to make arts experiences accessible to local students through field trips. In the last two months, over 600 children from S.D. Spady Elementary School and Village Academy were treated to live performances, where their imaginations soared as they laughed out loud, leaned forward in excitement, and eagerly raised their hands to engage with the actors during lively Q&A sessions. Arts Garage hopes to ensure that exposure to the arts starts young and remains a lifelong source of joy and growth.
Arts Garage’s work extends far beyond performances and exhibits. It is a community builder, a safe haven for expression, a platform for diverse voices, and a catalyst for economic and emotional wellness. Its partnerships with the City of Delray Beach and the Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as strong connections with local nonprofits and the Chamber of Commerce, demonstrate its integral role in the civic life of Delray.
As President and CEO, Marjorie Waldo often says, “Art connects us to our best selves, and to each other.” Whether it’s a young student learning the rhythms of African drumming, a senior citizen finding joy in a jazz performance, or 600 first and second graders glued to the stage for a children’s play, Arts Garage is there – creating moments that reverberate far beyond its walls.
In a time when arts funding faces cuts and communities face divisions, Arts Garage stands as a testament to the transformative power of creativity. It reminds us that art is not a luxury. It is a necessity – a shared language that sustains, heals, and connects us all.
