Arts are integral to human flourishing and community building. One of the best ways to learn about a culture, ancient or modern, is to look at the art they created. The creation of art, either visual or performative, helps us to connect to one another by experiencing life through the lens of another person’s life.

Unfortunately, working in the arts can often be a harrowing undertaking. From funding cuts to increasingly competitive job markets, the arts industry is getting harder and harder to exist in. Both artists and artistic administrators can easily find themselves overworked, underpaid, and burned out though their work is often their passion.

This environment is not conducive to generating the focus and creativity required to accomplish great and beautiful things. The arts should be a place of refuge for all, creators included, but they may find their work underappreciated and their mental health sidelined as organizations struggle to keep up with the demands of the modern world.

Arts leadership should take care of the people who make their dreams and vision come true, first and foremost. Without them, the work cannot get done. Fostering a collaborative, supportive, and joyful environment can help to alleviate external stressors and keep a company united. Building and maintaining trust is not easy, but can be done by scheduling time for staff to connect as people outside of work meetings, using technology to take care of repetitive or mundane tasks, and encouraging both artistic and administrative staff to pursue the enjoyment of the arts purely for arts’ sake.

These changes, though they may seem small, can go a long way in making the arts a safe place to unleash creativity and enjoy the company of others.