The Economics of Arts & Health: Enriching Public Health Infrastructure
21 September 2026, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
The second annual policy roundtable on the Economics of Arts & Health, held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Part of UNGA Healing Arts Week 2026
Organizers
Co-Chairs
Larissa Trinder
Assistant Vice President of NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine, NYC H+H
Website
During UNGA Healing Arts Week 2026 the second annual policy roundtable on the Economics of Arts & Health took place at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, hosted by David Erickson and Javier Silva of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. It was convened by the NYC Arts & Health Task Force, co-led by Dr Jill Sonke (US Cultural Policy Fellow), Dr Nisha Sajnani (NYU, Jameel Arts & Health Lab), Larissa Trinder (NYC Health + Hospitals) and Ha Nguyen (Ubiequity Partners), and brought together 40 leaders across health, culture, economics, policy, labour and finance to help inform a citywide strategy and related international efforts.
The discussion focused on the economic and social value of embedding the arts within systems of health and care, from creating good jobs and strengthening the cultural and care workforce to expanding equitable access to wellbeing. International examples showed how this work has been integrated and scaled through public systems, prompting discussion of what could be adapted for New York City and how the arts and creative arts therapies could become a more established part of the city's public health infrastructure. Participants included Commissioner Diya Vij (NYC Department of Cultural Affairs) and Commissioner Ann Sullivan (NYS Office of Mental Health), with international guests Dr Nils Fietje (WHO/Europe; Jameel Arts & Health Lab), Dr Nikos C. Stefanis (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School), Dr Daisy Fancourt (UCL), Dr Agustín Ibáñez (Global Brain Health Institute, BrainLat) and Anna Woolf (London Arts and Health).
Gallery
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The Economics of Arts and Health: Enriching Public Health Infrastructure in NYC, at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York during Healing Arts UNGA NYC 2026.
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Anna Woolf (London Arts and Health) joins remotely, with Bella Desai (New York Public Library) and Tony Davis (Federal Reserve Bank of New York) at the table.
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David Erickson, Senior Vice President and Head of Outreach & Education, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, addresses the roundtable.
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Dr. Nisha Sajnani (NYU Steinhardt; Founding Co-Director, Jameel Arts & Health Lab) welcomes participants, alongside Ha Nguyen (Ubiequity Partners), Larissa Trinder (NYC Health + Hospitals) and Prof. Jill Sonke (University of Florida).
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David Erickson introduces the Missing Markets Initiative.
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Participants from health, culture, economics, policy, labor and finance gather around the table at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
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More than 40 leaders took part in the second annual Economics of Arts & Health roundtable.
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A view of the roundtable during David Erickson's presentation on the Missing Markets Initiative.
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Javier Silva, Senior Associate Director, Community Engagement, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, speaks during the discussion.
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Prof. Jill Sonke presents the Social Prescribing Design Team, with Larissa Trinder and Dr. Nisha Sajnani.
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A presentation on Urban Health Plan's Arts Everybody programme, with more than 1,100 arts prescriptions generated to date.
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Larissa Trinder (NYC Health + Hospitals) speaks, alongside Ha Nguyen (Ubiequity Partners).
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Commissioner Diya Vij, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, contributes to the discussion.
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Dr. Nikos C. Stefanis (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School) addresses participants.
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Prof. Daisy Fancourt (UCL) shares data on social prescribing referrals in England, with Dr. Nisha Sajnani.
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Participants listen as Dr. Agustín Ibáñez speaks, with Commissioner Diya Vij and Sarah Johnson.
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Yazmany Arboleda (NYC Civic Engagement Commission) speaks, with Marygrace Berberian (NYU) and Bella Desai (New York Public Library), as remote participants join on screen.
Roundtable Participants
David Erickson
Senior Vice President and Head of Outreach and Education, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Javier Silva
Senior Associate Director, Community Development, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Jill Sonke, PhD
US Cultural Policy Fellow; Co-lead, NYC Arts & Health Task Force
Nisha Sajnani, PhD
Jameel Arts & Health Lab; NYU; Co-lead, NYC Arts & Health Task Force
Larissa Trinder
Assistant Vice President, Arts in Medicine, NYC Health + Hospitals; Co-lead, NYC Arts & Health Task Force
Ha Nguyen
CEO & Founder, Ubiequity Partners; Co-lead, NYC Arts & Health Task Force
Diya Vij
Commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
Stephen Stapleton
Founding Co-Director, Jameel Arts & Health Lab
Ann Marie Sullivan, MD
Commissioner, New York State Office of Mental Health
Daisy Fancourt, PhD
Professor of Psychobiology & Epidemiology, UCL; Steering Committee Chair, Jameel Arts & Health Lab
Nils Fietje, PhD
Technical Officer, WHO Regional Office for Europe; Co-Director, Jameel Arts & Health Lab
Christopher Bailey
Global Policy Lead, Jameel Arts & Health Lab
Nikos C. Stefanis
Professor of Psychiatry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School
Agustin Ibáñez, PhD
Global Brain Health Institute; BrainLat
Anna Woolf
CEO, London Arts and Health
Related
Event
UNGA Healing Arts Week
Held annually on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, UNGA Healing Arts Week is a dynamic program of events celebrating innovative approaches to global health and well-being through the arts. The 2026 edition will include the official launch of the JA&HL-Lancet Collection, a Well-Being Concert at Carnegie Hall, creative aging talks and conferences at Lincoln Center, as well as a host of other events all through the 5 boroughs of NYC.