Healing Through the Arts and Nature

Healing Through the Arts and Nature is sponsored by Prebys Foundation. This initiative promotes physical, mental/emotional, and social well-being by enhancing access to arts and nature-based programs that help prevent and/or treat health concerns.

Healing Through the Arts and Nature | Prebys Foundation Healing Through Arts and Nature The Prebys Foundation partnered with BBC Storyworks to feature local nonprofits building community and improving our health through arts and nature This short film and article features Emilio Nares Foundation, San Diego River Park Foundation, Queer Sol, Horse of the Sun Ranch, Fern Street Circus, and Black Like Water.

BBC Storyworks: The Restorative Power of Nature The San Diego region is home to a diverse network of nonprofit organizations offering arts, culture, and nature-based programs that promote health and connection. In recent years, these approaches have gained momentum as communities explore preventative and complementary pathways to care.

Health systems are beginning to adopt social prescribing — connecting individuals to non-clinical, community-based programs alongside medical treatment — while schools and community organizations use these experiences to foster belonging, reduce isolation, and support overall well-being.

Supporting this approach, research increasingly shows that participation in arts and cultural activities, as well as time spent in nature, can support emotional, physical, and social wellness. In response to this growing opportunity, Prebys launched the Healing through Arts and Nature grants initiative in 2025 .

In its first year, the initiative supported local organizations using arts, cultural, and nature-based activities for preventative and therapeutic purposes. Through this initial cohort, Prebys gained deeper insight into the breadth of programming across the region, the importance of repeat engagement in achieving health benefits, and the varied capacity of organizations to track health-related outcomes.

Building on these learnings, Prebys is continuing the initiative for a second year, renewing grants to organizations based on demonstrated progress. These grants aim to promote physical, mental/​emotional, and social well-being by enhancing access to arts and nature-based programs that help prevent and/​or treat health concerns.

Each renewal consideration was evaluated on the following criteria Non-clinical approaches to health and well-being – Activities foster health and well-being through arts and/​or nature-based experiences outside of clinical settings, and track outcomes in ways that can align with social prescribing pathways.

Clear priority community and health focus – Proposals identify one or more specific community(ies), articulate the health and well-being needs to be addressed, show how activities are responsive to community needs, and demonstrate program effectiveness/​impact. Proposed activities promote a sense of belonging through repeat and immersive group-based activities.

The program offers a consistent series of engagements for participants rather than one-off events. Access – The project actively reduces barriers (financial, geographic, cultural, and/​or physical) for participants with limited access to arts, culture and/​or outdoor experiences. Collaborative practice – Meaningful partnerships are encouraged.

Formal, documented agreements are required when collaborating with public entities (e.g., park agencies) or health/​social service providers. To strengthen learning and shared infrastructure across the Healing Through Arts and Nature/​Social Prescribing ecosystem, Prebys Foundation is partnering with The Nonprofit Institute , Art Pharmacy , and The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) .

Together, these partners are working to support arts, culture, nature-based organizations, and health providers, deepening learning across the field, and advancing coordinated approaches that improve community health and well-being across San Diego.

Why Arts and Nature Matter The San Diego region is home to a vibrant arts and culture community and great outdoors that offer an abundance of opportunities for healing, inspiration, rejuvenation, and social connection.

While there is a growing body of evidence on the benefits of arts and nature, this is a new area of grantmaking for Prebys that we hope will lead to a more sustainable level of community health and well-being through enhanced access to arts, culture, and nature experiences.

Photo Courtesy of Villa Musica Together, these partners are working to support arts, culture, nature-based organizations, and health providers, deepening learning across the field, and advancing coordinated approaches that improve community health and well-being across San Diego.

Click here to check out the 2026 grantees Click here to check out the 2025 Healing Through the Arts & Nature grant and grantees Recent data supports outdoors as medicine People living near parks and ​ “ green spaces” have less mental distress, are more physically active, and have extended life spans.

There is compelling evidence that time spent in nature can improve the attention capacity of people with attention deficit (and related) disorders. Check out the research about the healing power of nature Prebys Foundation has engaged The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego ( NPI ) to undertake a literature review.

This review covers two areas of nonprofit work that are traditionally underfunded yet potentially impactful for improving social determinants of health: engagement with the arts and connecting with nature. Check out the literature review Data shows arts are a pathway to: Decrease social isolation, forge new friendships, cultivate a sense of belonging and group cohesion, and improve social networks.

Reduce stress and anxiety by forming a healthy distraction from everyday worries. Boost self-awareness, self-esteem, and a sense of satisfaction.

Check out the research about the healing power of the arts Current Grant Application Closed Bria Lamb—Cultivating Connection and Confidence Through Garden-Based Learning Bria Lamb—Cultivating Connection and Confidence Through Garden-Based Learning This grant supports local organizations that support the mental and emotional well-being of youth and young adults within the communities of San Diego County.

Viktoriia Zimovchenko—Improving Mental Health in Nature as a Newcomer to the United States Viktoriia Zimovchenko—Improving Mental Health in Nature as a Newcomer to the United States Aaliyah Sonnier Vaden—Building Confidence and Community Through Surf Aaliyah Sonnier Vaden—Building Confidence and Community Through Surf Haragni Chuna—Strengthening the Body and Mind with Circus Haragni Chuna—Strengthening the Body and Mind with Circus Reginald Green—Transforming Trauma into Masterpieces at the VETART Studio Reginald Green—Transforming Trauma into Masterpieces at the VETART Studio Check out More Stories of Healing Through Arts & Nature Photo courtesy of Arms Wide Open 2025 Arts Ecosystem: Venues & Spaces 2025 Arts Ecosystem: Venues & Spaces 2024 Youth Mental Health Innovation & Scaling Initiative 2024 Youth Mental Health Innovation & Scaling Initiative