GCDN Annual Convening – Los Angeles 2025

The link between public space activation through arts and culture and improved mental health is well understood by experts, yet it remains largely absent from public discourse. At a time when urban loneliness, social fragmentation, and mental health challenges are on the rise – especially in cities – the role of public space in fostering wellbeing has never been more critical. So how can this knowledge be made more tangible, accessible, and influential?

This session moves beyond simply recognizing these benefits to explore strategies for effectively communicating them to a broader audience. What narratives and approaches can foster wider understanding and support? How can cultural leaders, urban planners, and policymakers bridge the gap between expert knowledge and public awareness? In an era of post-truth and growing skepticism toward science, this discussion will examine practical and effective ways to make the case for cultural activation as a key driver of well-being in urban life.