Arts in Health (Multi-year initiative)

Arts in Health (Multi-year initiative) is sponsored by Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

The Mission of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund Is to improve access and opportunity for all New Yorkers and foster healthy and vibrant communities. Laurie Tisch founded the Laurie M.

Tisch Illumination Fund in 2007, building upon her decades of experience serving on boards, creating organizations and developing partnerships. Play to Thrive supports organizations using sports to improve youth mental health outcomes, expand access for underserved communities, and promote equity across New York City and Northern New Jersey.

The Arts in Health initiative highlights the value of multiple artistic disciplines, including visual art, dance, music, theater, and film, and focuses on three main issues: mental health stigma, trauma, aging-related diseases, as well as caring for caregivers and frontline healthcare staff.

The first six years of the Arts in Health Initiative in NYC An interim report on our work supporting organizations using the arts to address mental health stigma, trauma, and aging-related diseases. Founded in 2007 by philanthropist Laurie M.

Tisch, the Illumination Fund plays an active role in supporting innovative approaches across a range of issues—ensuring that arts and arts education are accessible to all, promoting health, and creating opportunities for civic engagement. The Illumination Fund focuses its support on New York City.

Supporting organizations that use the arts to address mental health stigma, trauma, and aging-related disease in New York communities Supporting organizations that use sports to improve youth mental health, expand access, and promote equity in New York City and Northern New Jersey Supporting organizations that increase cultural access and opportunities for New Yorkers Supporting projects in Israel and NYC that foster community engagement, constructive expression, and cross-cultural communication Supporting organizations that mobilize individuals toward social change to enhance society and strengthen communities Supporting organizations that use the arts to address mental health stigma, trauma, and aging-related disease in New York communities Supporting organizations that use sports to improve youth mental health, expand access, and promote equity in New York City and Northern New Jersey Supporting organizations that increase cultural access and opportunity for New Yorkers Supporting projects in Israel and NYC that foster community engagement, constructive expression, and cross-cultural communication Supporting organizations that mobilize individuals toward social change to enhance society and strengthen communities Illumination Fund Expands Play to Thrive and Highlights Youth Sports Access at Project Play Summit 5/26/2026: Laurie Tisch, joined the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Project Play Summit earlier this month for a conversation with Aspen’s Tom Farrey on the future of youth sports and the importance of expanding access to play.

New Aspen Institute Report on Youth Soccer Reveals “Soccer Deserts” and Rising Costs for NYC/NJ Youth Commissioned by the Illumination Fund, the report outlines a path to a more equitable youth soccer system ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Changing Minds Young Filmmaker Festival 10th anniversary special launches on streaming platforms AppleTV releases compilation of 10 live action, animated, and documentary short films of youth mental health storytelling through film to combat stigma. Films followed by a conversation with Emmy winning actor John Turturro, Laurie Tisch, Cal Hedigan, and three young filmmakers. Available to watch worldwide.

Check out the videos of grantees of the Illumination Fund's Arts in Health initiative and get the impact report The report includes case studies and data on the impact of the first six years of the Fund’s initiative at the intersection of the arts and healthcare in New York City.

Illumination Fund Launches $10 Million Play To Thrive Initiative at the State of Soccer NY/NJ Summit The initiative will support organizations that use sports to improve youth mental health outcomes, expand access for underserved communities, and promote equity across New York City and beyond.

Illumination Fund launches Arts in Health initiative grantee videos and previews Progress Report These videos give you a behind-the-scenes look at the incredible organizations that are grantees in the Illumination Fund’s Arts in Health initiative.

Healthy Food & Community Change Building on previous giving to healthy food initiatives such as the NYC Green Carts, in 2013 the Illumination Fund launched its Healthy Food & Community Change initiative, a $15 million, 5-year commitment in New York City. In 2018 the Laurie M.

Tisch Illumination Fund launched Arts in Health, a $10-million multi-year initiative to support organizations working on health issues that impact New York communities and that utilize the arts as a tool for healing. The Fund is supporting the expansion of programs that work at this intersection, with special attention to increasing access for underserved communities and addressing disparities.